Being Prepared

Whether it’s a hurricane that hits along the East Coast, Florida, or the Gulf Coast, “Sandy” has reminded us once again of how important it is to be prepared and ready for an upcoming storm or hurricane.  Unlike tornados and earthquakes, hurricanes usually give you at least a few days of warning so you can make preparations for food supply, water, candles, lanterns, batteries, clothing, medicine, and some sort of communication device.  Sometimes homes need to be boarded up and other items secured for safety reasons and in hopes of protecting property from as little damage as possible.  In some cases, evacuations are necessary.  Although it is time consuming and inconvenient, it allows people the opportunity to leave safely before the storm hits.

Once again, it has been amazing to see the amount of support that occurs during times like this.  From money, supplies, food, emergency personnel, and volunteers it has seemed like another overwhelming response to a difficult situation.  The electric companies, from other states, even had their trucks and people headed to the east coast before the storm ever hit.  That must have been a very welcome sight.

Although warnings for hurricanes are given a few days or a week before it makes landfall, there are other times in life where there might not be advanced notice of an occurrence.   We each have a certain number of days to live on this earth.  Since we don’t know the exact amount of time, it is important to be prepared to live every day to its fullest.  We also know that Jesus is coming again at a time that no one knows so we need to stay prepared and be ready at all times.  It’s wise to make preparations for a hurricane and it’s also important to be ready, and make sure others have the opportunity to be prepared and ready, for Jesus’ return.

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12

³⁶ “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

 ⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.  Matthew 24: 36, 43-44