Yesterday afternoon, I watched a few episodes of show all about "preppers."
It was interesting to see the extremes to which some people have gone in their preparation to provide for and protect themselves and their families in case of some major disaster.
(Please don't misunderstand. I wholeheartedly support the rights granted by the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and feel that reasonable emergency preparedness is an exercise in wisdom.)
Some have built elaborate underground bunkers and stockpiled enough food to last 10 years or more. Others have simply ensured they have sustainable sources of food and water.
And, although one man did say he and his wife are Christians, not one of the "preppers" in the episodes I watched said anything about how the Lord or their faith factored into all of the possible scenarios they labor to prepare for.
We can make preparations for all kinds of possibilities in this life. A devastating earthquake may happen, a massive EMP burst could knock out the power grid. Some day our country might be under attack.
While I agree that it is wise to have plan in place to care for one's family if a disaster should happen, I'd rather not spend my days worrying or preparing for the "what ifs" of this life. I would rather make preparation for the certainties of eternity.
God, in His Word, speaks frequently of making preparation for things of eternal importance. He prepares for us and we should be preparing for Him. Take a look...
Preparing for the Lord
After seeing God's deliverance, Moses sang a song of praise to Him, which included these words:
The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation... (Exodus 15:2).
Moses was offering all of himself to the Lord as a vessel for His use, prepared for the Lord.
When Solomon dedicated the temple, he prayed, "O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee: And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision" (1 Chronicles 29:18-19).
David had prepared many items and supplies for the building of the house of the LORD. Solomon had prepared for the building and fulfillment of his father's dream of a place for the Most High God to dwell. Now Solomon asks the LORD to prepare his heart and that of his people to make them a fit dwelling place for Him.
Later, another man prepared his heart. Jotham was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem...Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the LORD his God (2 Chronicles 27:1,6).
Jotham was remembered as a mighty man, not because of his accomplishements, but because "he prepared his ways before the LORD his God."
Ezra was a leader among the captives who returned to Jerusalem from Babylon. Ezra 7:9 says, "For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him." Why had God blessed Ezra in this way and opened the way for him to return to his homeland? The answer is given in the next verse:
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments (Ezra 7:10).
Ezra was blessed because he had prepared his heart to learn, know, live and teach the Word of God.
God prepares for those who prepare for Him
Ephesians chapter 2 makes it clear that our salvation is not based upon anything we have ever done or ever could do. Salvation is a gift of God's grace based on what His Son accomplished for us in His death, burial and resurrection. Take a look at the last few verses of that chapter.
For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
When we placed our faith in Christ alone for salvation, He Himself made it possible for us to be "an habitation of God through the Spirit." In other words, Jesus' blood covers us, washes us, makes us clean in God's sight and prepares us to be a dwelling place for Him.
Jesus is actively making preparation right now for those who have believed in Him. How do I know? He said so. Look...
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:1-2).
Most Christians are familiar with the wonderful promise of Psalm 91:1.
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
In that same psalm, the Lord gives another precious promise:
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
God prepares for those who prepare for Him.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (2 Corinthians 2:9).
Father, thank You for preparing a way for my salvation through by giving Your Son to take my punishment on Himself. Thank You that He is preparing a home in heaven for me right now. Thank You for how You have blessed me and prepared for me in so many ways. Help me to continue to prepare my heart as a fit dwelling place for You. In Jesus' Name, amen.
{Daily Selah} is a mini-devotional, a pause to ponder about the Lord & how He wants us to live.
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