PREPARING FOR THE WORST OR FOR THE BEST?

Severe weather, earthquakes, other natural disasters... Times like these we wonder how best to prepare, how to avoid being impacted by what may come our way. Man is generally pretty adept at taking care of himself in physical matters. But let's face it, there's more that's out of our control than what we can control.

On top of these disasters we are also witnessing wars, rumors of wars, civil unrest, anarchy and lawlessness in general on the rise.

Many, seeing the troubled signs of the times, have resorted to prepping, storing up supplies for months and years to come, in hopes of avoiding any hardship. But the Bible has predicted that a time is near that no amount of human prepping can prepare for the trauma that is coming.

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” —Matthew 24:21

The signs pointing to the arrival of this Great Tribulation are shouting loudly now. Bible prophecy is truly unfolding before our eyes. But who is watching? Who is paying attention? Sadly, for the most part, people are asleep to these times and have become so anesthetized from the entertainment world. One doesn’t have to go far these days to find distractions that prevent one from dealing with reality.

The only way to prepare…

There remains but one way to prepare for what’s to come and it's not trusting in Donald Trump or any other world leader. It is in knowing Jesus Christ and trusting in Him for your salvation. Believing in Him and the finished work that He did on the Cross. He did it all for you, for me and the rest of mankind. And it’s a gift, freely given to all who will believe and receive.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” —John 3:16

So how will you prepare for the days to come? Will you store up for yourself goods on earth or treasures in Heaven?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” —Matthew 6:19—21

Why prepare for the worst when you can prepare for the best. The best is yet to come.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” —Matthew 11:27-29

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” —John 14:1-3

Jesus is not only preparing a place in Heaven for the believer, but He has also promised to take the believer out of the world before the Tribulation begins. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s called the rapture, the snatching away of the Body of Christ, where both those who have died in Christ and those who are alive at the time are taken up to Heaven.

“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?’”  —1 Corinthians 15:51-55

“For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” —1 Thessalonians 4:15-18

I pray you think on these things and take them seriously. Time is so very short. Eternity is forever. Where will you spend it?

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus.

“Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” —Titus 2:13