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Being Prepared
In this article I would like to discuss the phrase “being prepared”. This phrase is used quite a bit in our everyday lives. This is something we try to instill in our children and apply in our daily lives. Let us examine the definition of being prepared. Webster defines the word prepared as “to make ready beforehand for some purpose”. To me being prepared means things are in place and order and that you are ready. This is something that parents teach their children and that the world expects of adults. As a young child in Boy Scouts I can remember how important it was for us to be prepared. In school, if you had not properly prepared for a test, then you were probably not going to do your best. As an adult, if you are not prepared for your job then you are not an asset for the business and more than likely you will loose your job. Most everyone knows the importance of being prepared. The most important place to implement being prepared is in our spiritual lives. Are we prepared for the life after this worldly home?
It is sad to say that most people in this world are probably unprepared in their spiritual lives. It really amazes me when I see the emphasis placed on being prepared for things of this world and how little people prepare for the coming of Christ. There is a television show titled “Doomsday Preppers” which highlights the lives of people who are preparing for different catastrophic events. It is surprising to see how many people live this way. They spend every waking moment preparing new survival techniques in case of a nuclear attack, an act of terrorism, or some other earth shattering event. So much time is spent and crazy things are done to the extent that the family members consider removing themselves from that person. Don’t get me wrong…I don’t think it is bad to be prepared in case of an emergency, but sometimes you can take things too far. In most of these cases, nothing of that magnitude will most likely happen in their lifetime. They will have wasted their lives away trying to find a way to survive such an event and will be unprepared for the Lord’s coming. No one knows when the Lord will come and to waste our lives on something like this is futile. Matthew 24:36: “But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” NKJV
Instead of spending the majority of our time trying to be prepared for things of this world we should spend more time being prepared to reach our heavenly home. Our goal should be to please the Lord and help prepare others for the end of this life. We do not know how much time we have on this earth or when the Lord shall call on us. Matthew 24:44: “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.” NKJV Do not be caught unprepared. There will be no second chances.
Many people who “prepare” for a catastrophic event usually prepare a hiding place. Some might have a cave, an underground shelter, or a high-tech “impenetrable” place that they can go to in order to survive. It may be helpful depending on the circumstance. It won‘t, however, save you when the Lord comes. No one can hide from Him. Look at when Adam and Eve thought they could hide from the Lord when they were naked. The Lord knew where they were at and what they had done. This account is in Genesis 3:8: “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves form the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.“ NKJV Jonah thought he could hide from God on a boat instead of obeying His command. You can read what happened in the first chapter of Jonah. In both cases, the attempt to hide from God was anything but successful. It is impossible.
We need to evaluate the way our time is spent. We need to manage our time in a way that we are serving God to the fullest and preparing our selves and our families for Heaven. We cannot let the world fill our lives with so many things that our spiritual lives suffer. Are you ready?
Jason Hudson
