Just Like the Airline Stewardess Said . . .

Make ready a people prepared for the Lord (Luke 1:17).

Why all the fuss about preparing?  It’s just like the airline stewardess says, “If you are traveling with a child or someone who requires assistance, secure your mask on first, and then assist the other person.” 

We can call this preparation simple “airline safety instructions” before we “go up in the air” (when Jesus returns—not on US Airways Flight 347).

Why?  You personally have to be able to breathe to be able to be of any help to anyone around you.  So it’s important to take care of you.  Perhaps, like Larry, you see the wisdom in being the airline stewardess in your neighborhood, and letting everyone else know it’s a good idea to get their masks in order, too.  In previous blogs I gave suggestions on practical preparedness, but whether you prepare or not is (of course) entirely up to each individual.

What if you decide to prepare?  What does that mean?  Stocking up emergency supplies requires that we each do something.  The most difficult part about preparing for a possible disaster is making the decision to do it.  It’s really not that hard to buy extra groceries and stock “grab and go” bags.  The difficult thing is that the decision to do it makes a statement.  Or does it?  We buy health insurance “just in case.”  We buy life insurance “just in case.”  We buy fire insurance for our homes “just in case.”  Why is it so difficult to prepare “just in case” an emergency arises?  And it’s not nearly as expensive as insurance of any kind!  I’m not trying to push the issue or coerce anyone into emergency preparedness; I’m just trying to pry myself out of flowing with the cultural norm just because “everyone else is doing it—or not doing it.”

More importantly, if you and your family have your “masks” in place, your hands will be free to help others.  And the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about others.  We are here on this earth to bring Jesus to others.  If our personal needs are met, then we can reach out and do what Jesus suggested—er, commanded—in Matthew 25:

³⁵ For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; ³⁶ naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

Are we ready for the coming of the Lord?