Prepping

I was flipping around the TV channels a few weeks ago (we have a satellite dish so my thumb gets quite a workout). I came across a show named Doomsday Preppers. Interesting show. It's all about people who devote their entire lives to preparing themselves for the end of the world.

They usually live in "bunkers" or in a "compound," which is probably good because I'm not sure I'd want any preppers living next to me in MY subdivision.

Although, being prepared for something is probably good. When I was in the Boy Scouts, "Be Prepared" was our motto. There were merit badges for all sorts of things that today many preppers train in - First Aid, Rifle & Shotgun Shooting, Archery, Fishing and Wilderness Survival. I was a prepper and I didn't even know it!

Do you have any idea what the top ten prepping items are? One website says it's these: a flashlight & batteries, water & food, a source of fire, guns & ammunition, blankets, a first aid kit, a knife, a radio, fuel and  . . . trash bags. Trash bags? Huh? A clean prepper is a happy prepper I guess.

Some of these preppers however go WAY overboard in my opinion. They have shelves filled to the ceiling with food. They have racks and racks of weapons and ammunition. If there ever is a Zombie Apocalypse, these crazed, armed zealots will be more than ready to defend themselves . . . if they don't eat themselves into a coma first.

Preparedness, in general though, is good. There is nothing wrong with it. We are all preppers to some extent. Most of our cars have a spare tire in the trunk . . . just in case we get a flat tire. Most people have a savings account at a bank, just in case we need some extra money for something. Schools have fire drills, many communities have tornado warning sirens that are supposed to go off in the event of a severe storm. And back when I was in grade school, during he height of the Cold War, we even prepared for a nuclear blast. Duck and cover baby!!

It's good to be prepared. But are we prepared - spiritually?

Recently, a young friend of mine lost her father. He died suddenly. No one knows why. My friend certainly could not have been prepared for that. How could she be? The real question though is, was her FATHER prepared? Are ANY of us prepared?

Jesus tells us "No one will know the day or the hour" He will return (Matthew 24:36) but He DID promise us a return visit. And when He DOES come back, there's gonna be a whole lotta hurtin' goin' on. Read Matthew 24, the entire chapter, and you will see what I mean.

When you get to the end of the chapter, Jesus tells us a parable about a fig tree and also about the head of a household, prepping for a thief to come in the night. These stories are meant to ask us a question. Are we prepared for Jesus return?

So, how do we prepare ourselves? Many theological experts say that we are in the last days before Jesus comes back. How can we be sure that we will be ready? Check scripture.

"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" - 2 Corinthians 13:5

Hint number one was right there. Jesus has to be "in you" . . . in our hearts. Being baptized as a baby is not enough. Jesus told Nicodemus, "You must be born again" - baptized by water AND by spirit . . . emphasis on "the spirit." Read the first 21 verses of John 3 for more information about this.

Are we bearing fruit? Jesus has told us that if we do not bear fruit we will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matthew 7:19). Folks, that ain't a good thing. We must examine ourselves. Daily! Is our spirit lush and producing much fruit? Or are we simply relying what our pastors and priests tell us is "good enough?" What? "Did Bob just tell us to not trust what our pastors tell us?" That's exactly right. There is only one source of truth and that is God's Word, the Bible. And the Bible says, "examine yourselves!" Examinew ascripture, examine self.

And what if, upon further examination, we find ourselves lacking when we calk down the fruit aisle of our souls? What if the branches of our spiritual tree are barren and non-productive? Then, according to God's word, the spirit of God is not in us. And that is NOT good! I we find ourselves without God's Holy Spirit in us we are therefore not in Christ and are doomed to destruction. We must get on our knees, beg forgiveness and repent of our ways, the lives we are living.

There is only one way to be saved - believe fully in Jesus Christ. He died so that we might live.

From second Corinthians . . .

(Verse 15) And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

(Verse 17) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

(Verse 20 & 21) . . . We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin (Jesus) to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Are we prepared? Are we ready for the return of The King. If not, we must GET ready. This is prepping on a biblical scale. We don't want to be left behind, knocking at the door after He has come. If we are not "in Christ" when Jesus returns, God has promised that He will not . . . HE WILL NOT let us in. Time to get preppin'!

“Be ready and keep ready, you and all your hosts that are assembled about you . . ." - Ezekiel 38:7