Living in the Hyphen We Call Home

Eschatology the study of the last things often feels like an abstract doctrine reserved for debates about end-times timelines or cryptic prophecies. For many believers, it’s hard to see how studying “the last days” has any bearing on the here and now, on the frustrations of traffic, the challenges of marriage, or the demands of daily work.

But the New Testament doesn’t let eschatology stay at the margins of life. It insists that we are already living in “the end of the ages” (1 Corinthians 10:11). We exist in the “already–not yet” period between Christ’s first coming and His return. This period this hyphen is not static or meaningless. It carries eternal weight and purpose.

Living in the Last Days

The early church believed they were already in the last stage of history. The writer of Hebrews says, “In these last days [God] has spoken to us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2). James urges believers, “Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8).

Centuries have passed since these words were written, but nothing has changed about our spiritual location. We are still in this final chapter of God’s redemptive story, awaiting the next and ultimate event the return of Christ to judge the living and the dead.

Theologians often describe this reality as “already–not yet.” Jesus has already inaugurated His kingdom through His death and resurrection, but it is not yet fully consummated. We live in the space between His comings, and that hyphen is our home. It’s not an empty line but a timeline with a divine destination, infused with meaning for every moment we live.

The Problem of Forgetting the Hyphen

The apostle Peter warned that many would forget or mock the reality of Christ’s return. “Where is the promise of his coming?” they ask (2 Peter 3:4). They live as though life will continue endlessly, ignoring the coming judgment and the eternal significance of their actions.

In this worldview, success and happiness are built on fragile pillars career, possessions, relationships, or personal achievements. Life shrinks to the size of the weekend or the next vacation, and meaning evaporates in the face of suffering or disappointment.

But Christians know differently. We know the “day of the Lord will come like a thief” (2 Peter 3:10), and all that we do will be exposed and evaluated in light of eternity. This knowledge is meant not to frighten us but to shape how we live, infusing ordinary life with eternal significance.

How the Hyphen Shapes Daily Life

Understanding that we live between the cross and Christ’s return transforms the way we approach daily life. Peter asks, “What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” (2 Peter 3:11).

• Everyday moments matter. Whether you’re commuting through rush-hour traffic or cooking dinner for your family, every action can reflect the glory of Christ who is coming again. The interruptions and delays of life become invitations to patience, prayer, and faithfulness.

• Your work matters. You may feel like your daily tasks changing diapers, entering data, or repairing equipment don’t carry eternal weight. But Scripture reminds us, “In the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). When offered to God, even the smallest task becomes part of His larger story.

• Your relationships matter. Every interaction with your spouse, children, friends, or coworkers involves an eternal soul. As C.S. Lewis noted in The Weight of Glory, “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” Our words and attitudes influence others toward eternal joy with Christ or separation from Him.

The Hyphen as Hope

A friend recently shared that his youth group ends each meeting with the simple creed:
“Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.”

This refrain grounds us in reality. We look back to the cross, rejoice in the resurrection, and look forward to Christ’s return. It reminds us that the “immanent frame” the notion that this world is all there is — is an illusion. The day will come when “the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed” (2 Peter 3:10), and Christ will reign openly.

A World Charged with Glory

The study of the end times is not about charts and dates but about living faithfully in the present moment. Every breath, every word, every act takes place in a world charged with God’s purposes. We must not live like Eustace Scrubb in The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, staring at life as if it were a lifeless picture pinned to a wall. The picture is alive, moving, and drawing us toward the final chapter of God’s story.

Peter exhorts us, “Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish” (2 Peter 3:14). As we await His return, we walk in holiness, aware that even the smallest moment of obedience is an echo of eternity.

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