ARE YOU PREPARED?

On Tuesday night, Janette and I went out for a Valentine’s Day dinner. We had seen an ad in the newspaper, and prepared by making reservations. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were surprised that the sign said, “Please seat yourself.” The restaurant was quite busy, but we found a table waiting for us, with our name and time of reservation written on a red heart that marked our table as reserved. While we were prepared, I’m not so sure the restaurant was. They were understaffed, and the stress showed. Soon after we placed our order, I overheard the manager say that they had only received eight reservations and had run out of the advertised special. With a full restaurant, I thought we must have made it just in time, but perhaps they saved enough of the special for the guests who had prepared by making reservations.

On the other side of preparation, the National Geographic Channel has aired a show called, "Doomsday Preppers", highlighting the lengths that some people go to in anticipation of some cataclysmic event. These families have spent a lot of time and money building up supplies of food, water, and often weapons, as they anticipate the collapse of our society. While some preparation is good (FEMA suggests at least a three-day supply of food and water), this seems like overkill to me.

But, I wonder if these people are prepared for the most important things of all … either the return of Christ, or their own death? They may be prepared for a cataclysmic event, but are they prepared for eternity? I don’t mean to sound morbid, but this is serious business. Paul made this clear to the church of Thessalonica, “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” (1Th 5:2 ESV) Jesus taught about it in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25.

Now, I turn the question to you. Are you prepared? Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Have you confessed your sin and found salvation in Him? If not, today is the day to prepare! I’d love to help, so please let me know (whether in person, by e-mail, or blog comment) if you’re ready to receive Him. At a minimum, please visit a site like http://www.gotquestions.org/Romans-road-salvation.html or http://www.navigators.org/us/resources/illustrations/items/bridge, either of which will guide you through a decision to trust in Jesus Christ for salvation and begin a relationship with Him.

If you are prepared, consider the implications of the following verses for you and those you know (hint: share the Good News with them):

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" (Rom 10:13-15 ESV)

In His grip, Pastor Decker