Be Prepared

 

I was channel surfing the other night when I came across a cheesy sci-fi movie from the 1950’s that I remember watching as a kid. The premise was that the world was about to be destroyed and a small group was leaving on a rocket to a new home on another planet. One of the characters was a wealthy man who funded the rocket because he didn’t want to die and wanted to reserve a place for himself.

 

Since truth is invariably stranger than fiction, I’m not surprised when I read about all the billionaires who have had doomsday bunkers built and of Elon Musk’s efforts to colonize Mars. There is a whole industry that caters to people who are preparing for one catastrophe or another. 

 

Christians are called to exercise good stewardship by being prepared. Our preparation should be motivated by our love and care for others and our desire to serve, not just for our own benefit.

 

There are several levels of preparation. On a practical level, we should be prepared for those emergencies that may occur. Here in Texas, it’s good to have an action plan in the event of a tornado. Those with families should have a plan in place in the event something happens to them. Wills, trusts, insurance policies, and written instructions can relieve some of the burden on our loved ones. Those in ministries should be looking to train others to take over for them if needed.

 

We should be prepared for adversity. Jesus told His disciples, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). His words apply to us as well. We all will face problems, sickness, and eventually death. We believe that…..”God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). We prepare for the major problems to come by trusting God now in all the little areas of life. Our faith grows as we experience His goodness to us.  

 

We should be prepared spiritually, ready for God to use us whenever and however He desires. Just as a soldier needs exercise to remain physically fit, we need to make our spiritual life a priority in order to remain fit for service. We should always be ready to witness with our words and lives. Peter advises, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15).

 

We should be ready at any time to meet Jesus, either when we die or when He comes again. Never leave any good work undone. Jesus gave the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) to remind us to….. “Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour” (Matthew 25:13).

 

Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts, originated the Scouts motto of “Be Prepared” in 1908. Its words still hold true today. “Be Prepared in Mind by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur, so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment, and are willing to do it. Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it.”

 

Let’s strive to be prepared for whatever may come our way - today, tomorrow, or in days or years to come.

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The individual posts in this blog have been collected into a book, Reflections From the Basic Truths Blog.  It is available for free as an E-book through Barnes and Noble, https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reflections-from-the-basic-truths-blog-james-yarmchuk/1147055811?ean=2940181202702, Apple Books, and multiple other book websites. It is available for a minimal charge on Amazon and can also be purchased as a paperback through them.