A revelation realized while getting sandbags
Yesterday, as I stood in line for sandbags, an unsettling awareness washed over me. The ten sandbags I secured may hopefully shield our home from the looming threat of water, but the revelation they brought might serve a greater purpose.
The simple truth I realized is this: Waiting to prepare is preparing to fail.
I regret not obtaining the sandbags sooner. My tendency to procrastinate extends even to crucial matters like hurricane preparation. If only I had acted earlier, I could have sidestepped the long queue. My wife, a natural planner, has been instrumental in ensuring we have everything we need for the coming days, and her organizational skills keep me grounded. Without her, I'd be lost in chaos.
Christian Preparation: A Spiritual Readiness Perspective
This idea of preparation is important, especially as a Christian. When meteorologists issue warnings, there's a frenzy of activity: shelves are emptied, windows boarded, and evacuations planned. Yet, the prospect of Jesus' return is met with silence. Daily routines continue, devoid of any urgency or contemplation of His imminent arrival.
A thought-provoking message I received from a friend yesterday echoes in my mind:
While we prepare for this storm, shouldn’t our hearts and minds be even more focused on biblical preparation for Jesus’ return? Or for the day we meet Him face-to-face?
Let this be a gentle reminder: in matters of weather and soul, preparation is paramount.
In the Bible, the anticipation of Jesus' return is a recurring theme, woven into the fabric of scripture with over 300 references in the New Testament. That’s a lot, right? I thought so too.
Biblical Preparation for Jesus' Return
Jesus’ return is highlighted in the Gospels, echoed in the Epistles, and vividly depicted in the Book of Revelation. Jesus Himself spoke of His return, and the apostles consistently reminded believers of its importance as a cornerstone of the Christian faith.
This biblical emphasis on His Second Coming serves as a powerful reminder: just as we prepare for temporal storms, we must also ready our hearts and lives for the eternal promise of His return.
The truth is—preparation is hard.
I can only speak for myself that I am doing my best to prepare for Jesus’ return—or, to go be with Him should He delay. I know there is so much I could write about biblical preparation for Jesus’ return—that’s a post for another day.
Everyday Spiritual Readiness
If you could follow me around in the mornings—when it’s time to get up, get ready, and get out the door you’ll find someone who is far from perfect. I’m a long way from perfect. My wife and I have four boys—3 of them leave every morning with me to go to school where I teach middle school Bible for one hour. I wish mornings went like this: The boys get up, eat breakfast, get dressed, brush their teeth, get their school bags and lunchboxes ready, and walk out the door the first time I tell them it’s time to go.
Ha—it’s seldom that seamless!
Getting ready for school each morning can be a hard, messy ordeal, quite unlike the portrayals we often see in movies. The reality involves breaking up fights, trying not to lose our minds, and striving to leave the house on time so I'm not late for work.
You might wonder what this chaos has to do with preparing for storms or anticipating Jesus' imminent return. The answer lies in an important reminder for both myself and you: we won't prepare perfectly. Mistakes are inevitable. Distractions happen, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we miss the mark.
Following Jesus and waiting for His return isn't about living or waiting perfectly. Thankfully, because of Jesus, we stand righteous before Him in spirit. Our bodies are still in the process of redemption, a journey that will only be complete when He bursts through the eastern sky.
Right now, you are righteous because of Christ in you—the hope of glory.
When my boys finally settle into the truck and we're on our way to school, I take a moment to breathe, thank God for them, and pray with them before dropping them off. Even if the morning was a disaster, my temper flared, and my boys bickered, there's still grace. As we prepare for life's storms or Jesus' return, grace remains. Mistakes will be made; tempers will slip; and distractions will arise.
Let this serve as your reminder to prepare—whether it's for an impending hurricane, Jesus' return, or simply getting ready for school. Preparation is wise, and I strive to embody that wisdom as a husband, dad, and follower of Jesus.
Don’t you? I hope these words of mine made sense today.
We must be ready.
Prepare now.
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Well said. I heard a pastor and theologian say “We have ordinary times and times of crisis. The times of crisis are not the time where you prepare for the crisis. That preparation must be done in the ordinary times and put to use in times of crisis.” and it certainly rang true for me, on matters of weather and soul.