Preparing For The Worse

Well, the big news this week was the coming of Hurricane IKE. With landfall and strength a really big uncertainty up until two days prior to landfall, people all along the Texas coast were preparing for the storm. Folks south of us, the Corpus Christi area, were getting out of harms way, because all the data indicated the hurricane was going to hit the coast at that point. A mass exit was under way beginning on Wednesday with people heading north to escape the worst of the storm. Some would have to wait until the last minute needing to tend to business before leaving, but most of them had a place to stay away from home. Hotels and motels in and around San Antonio were booked solid and awaiting the arrival of thousands from the coastal areas. Here at home everyone predicted a day of wind and heavy rain, thus we were preparing for electrical power outages and the lack of basic essential necessities which could last several days. I was at the grocery store on Wednesday, along with hundreds of other people, only to find I had almost waited too long to get my desired supplies. Shelves where bread and canned foods were normally full to capacity, lay naked with employees repeating over and over again the uncertainty of when the shelves would be restocked. I did get what I wanted, then stood in line longer than usual, even with every check-out isle open and running as fast as possible. Then it happened. The final prediction for the storms path changed. It was to turn north sooner than expected sending it ashore at Houston, hundreds of miles to the east. Hotel and motel reservations were being canceled by those evacuating south of us, but at the same time reservations were being made by all those people east of us wanting to come west away from the brunt of the storm. As I sit here this day, which I had anticipated to be a very ugly day at the beginning of the week, the sun is shining in partly cloudy skies with a soft breeze blowing. I have kin in Houston, whom I know have prepared for the worst yet don’t seem to feel this storm is all that significant. Well, I hope their alright, but I’ll worry for their safety and pray until I hear form them.
[1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11] It’s amazing how we will prepare for the forth-coming wrath of mother-nature, like we could hold back the ocean tides or tame the stormy winds. Man has the capability of seeing and predicting coming storms of peril which can be warned about days before their arrival. It’s amazing how quickly we are ready to defend our properties and fear the loss of all we own, but ignore the impending wrath of God as if we can readily prepare a defense when that day arrives. The prediction has been there since the beginning of time, for if there is a beginning, there must be an end. James says this about life. “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” (James 4:14) The last day, if you’re still alive, will be a scary one. (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18) Do you believe Jesus will return one day? He’s not hanging around for you to get prepared, ya know. He’s going to gather up His church and return to heaven and those left behind are, well I really don’t want to think about it. Today is the day to begin your preparations for departing this world, you do know you’re going to die some day, right? Do you have confirmed reservations in heaven? Peter says you need to be sure. (1 Peter 1: 3-11) Call on the Lord through baptism, then spend the rest of your life preparing, for eternal life.