Are you ready and prepared?
Are you ready for it?
There are many things we prepare for, like work, school, vacation, holidays, retirement, etc. There are stories in the Bible of people preparing for upcoming events.
In Genesis Chapter 41 is the story of how a young man named Joseph prepared for an upcoming seven years of famine by stocking away enough food ahead of time. He saved many people’s lives because he understood preparation. Also in Genesis 6:9 through Chapter 7 is the story of a man named Noah who built an Ark in anticipation of a future flood.
With both men’s efforts and preparation, they were able to secure and deliver the avoidance of catastrophe to themselves and those they were responsible for.
Why do we pay for cars and houses, or even life insurance? To have a replacement or coverage of any (material) losses that might occur. Insurance is, “just in case” preparation. How prepared are we for a crisis? Are you prepared for the electricity to go out for a few days or weeks? What if your immediate supply of fresh water was cut off for a week or so? What if the internet went down for a week, heaven forbid that one.
This isn’t a primer for being a fringe prepper or living off the grid, but certainly it is biblical to think about worse case scenarios and ask ourselves, without panicking or becoming stressed out, “What am I ready for?”
In Matthew 6:25 -34 Jesus gives us great advice on how not to worry, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be cognizant of unexpected, depleting events in our lives.
Proverbs 30:24-25 NIV says, “Four things on Earth are small, yet exceedingly wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up food in the summer.”
So ants are wise for preparing for the downtimes. We shouldn’t get frazzled out or unduly anxious over every little thing that could happen, but it is wise and prudent to get ready and be organized ahead of time for potential bad times or a crisis incident.
In Luke 12:16-21 is the parable of the rich man who had abundance and stored up great material surplus for himself. However, when his time was up and he was going to die, God called him a fool. Why? The greater lesson isn’t that he didn’t share or leave his wealth to others, but his preparation lacked priority.
He wasn’t “rich towards God.”
Matthew 6:20A NIV “But store up for yourselves treasure in Heaven. V21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
There is an inevitability that happens to all of us.
Heb 9:27 KJ says, “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement.”
We all share the same end result: Our lives will end. Have we made preparation for that? Are you ready for it? According to God, what do we need to do?
How about Romans 10:9-10 NIV, “If you declare with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved, V10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Many scriptures affirm that Christ is the only way of salvation, or in other words, trusting in Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, so that when this life ends, we have made the most important preparation we could ever make. So like Joseph, Noah, and unlike the foolish rich man, we avoid tragedy and ruin by laying up treasure in Heaven. (For us: Trusting, believing and confessing Christ) We need to prepare for many things in this life, but are we preparing for life after this life?
God considers it foolish not to. Storing up treasure is preparation. Storing up treasure in Heaven is the ultimate readiness.
For past articles and to review my last book, please visit traceygardone.com Blessings.