Get Ready
Are you prepared? This is a question I hear a lot around this time of year because it’s hurricane season here in Florida. Thankfully, my husband is a planner. So, we have gallons of water, batteries, a generator, canned goods, and other emergency supplies stockpiled in our garage. The latest addition to our arsenal is a watersafe, a plastic bladder that transforms our bathtub into a sanitary water storage container. We learned about this product on a reality tv show called Doomsday Preppers. (My husband had me DVR all the episodes of season 1). Have you seen the show? The National Geographic Channel website describes its premise:
“Doomsday Preppers explores
the lives of otherwise ordinary Americans
who are preparing for the end of the world as we know it.
Unique in their beliefs, motivations, and strategies,
preppers will go to whatever lengths they can
to make sure they are prepared for any of life’s uncertainties.”
Each episode highlights three preppers, describes their well-laid doomsday preparations, and provides an expert assessment of their plan’s effectiveness. I must admit that I think the people on this show are a little crazy. One prepper made his kids eat meals made with bugs in order to prepare them for what he considered to be the inevitable end of the food supply during an apocalypse. I seriously wanted to grab his kids and take them out for a Happy Meal.
I am not over-fascinated with doomsday scenarios, but as a Christian, I do believe we are living in the end times. This week, as I was reading I Peter 4, I realized that this epistle provides us with our own “end times” preparation list:
The end of all things is near.
Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.
Above all, love each other deeply,
because love covers over a multitude of sins.
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received
to serve others, as faithful stewards
of God’s grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one
who speaks the very words of God.
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,
so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”
vs. 7-11, NIV
Christ followers, like Doomsday Preppers, are people unique in belief, motivation and strategy. I believe Jesus is the way. I am motivated by His love for me, and this passage provides my end times strategy:
As the end draws near, I am called to be a servant.
I am called to be alert and prayerful.
I am called to love.
I am called to speak the very words of God.
I am to open my home and my heart as a safe haven.
God will give me all the supplies required for survival. In the end, He will be glorified. Victory is certain.
Q4U: Are you ready for the end? How are you preparing?
My one-word focus for the year is “fruitilicious.” Find out what that means here.
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Joining like-minded sisters today at Hear it on Sunday: Use it on Monday, Faith-Filled Friday, Thought-Provoking Thursday, Tell His Story, Playdates with God and Soli Deo Gloria.
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yes, I too believe the end is near. I really want to figure out how to make more blog post about it. Thanks for stopping by!
Lovely to connect with you, Tonya. This passage gave me a lot of hope as I look toward the future.
“I am motivated by His love for me”–such a perfect motivation, Lyli. The first half of my life I was more motivated by fear of Him, but it sure is better in this second half to be motivated by His love instead!
Live like each day could be our last. Thanks for sharing this encouragement.
Lisa, your comment makes me think about that verse that says “perfect love casts out fear.” What a blessing to be His — He so patiently woos us.
I share your thoughts exactly and have been reading in 1 Peter with the She Reads Truth crew this week too! I am not a prepper, ha, but I do believe we are in th endtimes without a doubt. One thing I have always told my now-adult kids: We should be preaching the Gospel, not that there are not bad things coming upon the earth because there are, but we want to be spreading the the Good News that Jesus has made a way of escape of life and hope and peace OUT of this world! “If we had hope in this life only we would be of all men most miserable…” So glad my hope is built on nothing less but Jesus’ blood and righteousness! Wonderful post! Glad I found you 🙂
This is my first time joining She Reads Truth, and I am really enjoying it. So nice to “meet” you!
There was a time when I was scared of the end, but as I have grown in my faith, I find it that I feel ready if the end was to come today. I loved “I am to open my home and my heart as a safe haven.” I have always been very cocoonish about my personal life and opening my home to others but have found such richness in opening those areas to others especially my church community.
I am reading a great book right now on the subject of opening up your home. It’s called Bread and Wine: A Love Letter to Life Around the Table with Recipes by Shauna Niequist.
Amen to that, Lyli. I’ve never heard of the Doomsday Preppers but they sound like all those folks who lose the big picture. Yes, He will give us all we need to survive. He does.
He really does equip us, Laura. I am so thankful that I don’t need to fear any storm. His grace covers me wherever I am.
Great post, Lyli! I liked when you said, “God will give me all the supplies required for survival. In the end, He will be glorified. Victory is certain.”
That’s the difference between Doomsday Preppers and Christians. They are laying in supplies for the end, but Christians just need to learn to abide with Christ and He will supply every need.
I agree. Jerralea. God has given us an action plan.. we just need to occupy till He comes.
Dear Lyli
Your words reminds me so much of the time when apartheid was abolished in South Africa. Many of the white folks also stored up rations, tinned food and all the neccessities for they were convinced that we were going to have a civil war in our country! I prefer to trust our Lord Jesus who promised us that He will always be with us.
Much love XX
Mia
It is amazing how sometimes what we view as “the end” is actually the beginning. — During my years of teaching high school, one of my favorite novels to teach was set in South Africa. “Cry, the Beloved Country” is such an beautiful story of redemption and forgiveness!
I wish I could say I am shocked that there are people out there like the Doomsday Preppers, but sadly I am not. We probably are in the end of times, this world seems to get crazier every day, I’m so glad my hope is found in Jesus and not in an over zealous group like that 🙂 Although I’m sure they gave some good tips you can use to prepare for hurricane season 😉
We stopped watching about half way through the first season… I am reminded that God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.