Thought for Today
Exodus 23:20 I am going to send an angel in front of you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared.
Psalm 65:9 You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide the people with grain, for so you have prepared it.
Mark 1:3 the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'"
1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him"—
Unless you are just awakening from your “long winter’s nap,” (A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore) you know that there is a massive winter storm approaching. The storm will blanket much of our country with many areas that rarely see freezing temperatures will face bone-chilling cold.
As Greta and I watched the news coverage this morning, we saw numerous newscasters reporting panicked buying at grocery stores and hardware stores. The ‘concerned’ reporters were ‘warning’ us of massively empty shelves everywhere.
My first thought was to recall what so many of us experienced at the beginning of the pandemic. I do remember the last time I grocery shopped before everything shut down. I remember watching the folks at the grocery store trying to restock the toilet paper and having shoppers grab packages from the pallets as the stockers tried to take them to the shelves. It probably says something about my own priorities that the first things I stocked up on were toothpaste and coffee. I wonder when I go to the store this afternoon if I will find folks stocking up on the 3 B’s (bottled water, beer, beef jerky)? Those ‘concerned’ reporters did mention panicked buying of chips, crackers and snack foods.
Even as early as last night, Greta heard reports of shortages of batteries and ice melt at the hardware stores. I did have occasion this past week to use my snowblower and remembered to place it in the front part of the garage for ‘easy’ access (as easy as moving a 100-ton machine can be! . . . okay, maybe that is an exaggeration)
More than 10 years ago, I was a Boy Scout. I still remember the motto, “Be Prepared.” I do not think it unreasonable to plan ahead. In fact, proper preparation and planning are essential in life. We are already preparing and planning whether or not to attempt in-person worship on Sunday, given the precarious state of the church’s furnace and the anticipated temperatures. For those of you who are members of the congregation, watch your email and maybe even check out the church’s Facebook page and website.
As a Christian and as a minister, I cannot help but wonder what the world would be like if people prepared for the coming of the Kingdom of God as seriously as they prepare for the coming of this storm. I’ve mentioned Mark 1:3 before, especially “Prepare the way of the Lord.” What kind of a world would result if we also prepared our own ways, straightened out our lives anticipating the coming of the Lord? Surely we would not be buying batteries or the 3 B’s.
John’s gospel offers us an interesting passage concerning our own preparations. “14:2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” I have always thought of this as a very positive promise that Jesus would take me to a special, good place prepared for me in advance. But, what if the place prepared for me in eternity is based on how well I have prepared in advance for eternity?
I take great comfort in Paul’s words, “Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—“ But, I also remember the words of James, “2:15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.”
Being prepared for the snowstorm or for the storms of life is about more than buying ‘stuff’ at the store. Being prepared is about making our lives straight, about living out our faith in our lives. Being prepared is about preparing our lives for the coming of the Lord.
Stay safe, be prepared for all of life’s storms, trust God,
Pastor Ray