Mark 13:8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth-pains.
I think “Marvel Avengers: Age of Ultron” has been out long enough for some theological reflection without having to declare any spoilers!
There was one conversation that grabbed my attention (amongst all the fighting, flying and generally duffing up bad guys!). It came at the end of the film. It was between Ultron (baddy) and Vision (goody). They were reflecting on the human race.
Ultron basically says that there is no hope for them. The only way to save them is to wipe them off the face of the planet and start again. He says to Vision, “They’re doomed you know?”
Visions replies, “I know”. But he then says that there is beauty in their struggle to survive.
Of course both are right according to the Bible.
Jesus makes it very clear that humanity is incapable of saving itself. That horrors that dominate our news will continue until he returns to judge everyone who has ever lived, wipe clean the surface of the earth and bring in a glorious new creation. People are doomed without a saviour.
At the same time in midst of the struggle to survive is the beauty of human love. Love that contains the lingering image of God our creator. Love that is most beautifully seen when God the Son becomes man to fight our battle for us. For as Jesus goes to the cross he bears all that condemns us to be doomed and triumphs over it by giving up his life in our place. He wins for us a place in His perfect new world.
The Hulk was right… “It’s definitely the end times!” That’s why we need to heed Ultron’s warning and look to the beauty of Jesus our saviour.