1 Peter 4:7 makes me think of those cartoons that feature some sandal-wearing, robe-clad kook wearing a sandwich board on the streets of some urban center saying; "The End Is Near!  Repent!" 

I like the way the NIV translates this verse; "The end of all things in near.  Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that  you can pray."  Now, when the author of this epistle says that the end of all things is near, we can take that in two ways; the end as in the end of the world as we know it.  The other way we can understand the word "end" is to take it to mean "goal", as in what is the cheif end of man; the chief goal and purpose of man.

Our "end" in the sense of goal or purpose, is to glorify and worship the Lord and serve God all of our days.  To be a light unto the nations, to let our light shine, the light of the gospel, before others, and to be salt in the world. 

Whether we understand the end to be our purpose or the last day of history, the culminating event is the same; the return of Jesus Christ to end this current sinful age and to usher in God's perfect, eternal and just kingdom.  So the point is; live today and every day, knowing that we are working toward this goal, and that our goal is nearly complete, as if Jesus might come back today!  The next time your kids ask you to play a silly game with them and you are about to refuse because you are too busy, stop and run that request through this filter: but what if Jesus comes and I don't get the chance to do this again?

Ultimately, this all reflects back to our prayer life.  Mark Twain once said we should endeavor to live our lives in such a way that at our death, even the undertaker is sad!  But we are here told to live our lives in such a way that when we pray, when we enter into that time of communing with God heart-to-heart, we have a clear conscience; yes Lord, I did work for your kingdom today, yes Lord, I don't need to hide from Your presence as Adam and Eve did in shame; I have treated others ethically and fairly, I have sought justice and kindly and humbly walked before you and with my fellow humans and Christians.  This way there is nothing to inhibit our intimacy with God.