By Gina Caswell Kelly
Did you survive the cold? Getting ready for the cold out in the country is different from getting ready in town. You have to make sure the well house has a working heat lamp. You have to check the heat tape on the pipe that is exposed. Check your gas line. (In my case they bled any moisture out to prevent freezing and then wrapped it for me. Thanks Atmos!) You have to fill up buckets with water, just in case the water does freeze, so you can flush your toilet. Fill bottles with water for drinking and teeth brushing. Leave faucets dripping, and open cabinet doors under sinks so pipes won’t freeze. Wrap outside faucets. It takes a lot! Fortunately, I have a great neighbor land owner who takes very good care of me, and my son who also makes sure all is well. But it takes a lot to be ready when extended days of very cold temperatures are coming our way.
We all saw the forecast. We knew what was headed our way, so we made preparations. We are pretty good at preparing for what we know is coming our way, or even what might possibly be coming our way. We keep house, vehicles and ourselves insured to prepare for what might happen. We try to stay ahead of the game, and prepare ourselves for what we could face.
Well, here’s the deal. We know for a fact that we will all die one day. We know for a fact that Jesus said He would return one day. We do not know when either day will take place, but we can be sure that it will happen. So, why do we not prepare as well for these inevitable as we do for a weather forecast that might or might not happen? We know our days our numbered. Unless Jesus returns first, we will all face death one day. We do not know when in either case. But we must stay ready!
What does being ready to face the end of our lives or the return of the Savior look like? It looks like His children making sure that all in our boundaries know Jesus as their personal Savior. It looks like Christians with a sense of urgency working hard to reach all those in our sphere of influence for Him. It looks like a parent being able to rest well at night because they know that each of their children have given their hearts to Jesus and made Him Lord of their lives. It looks like families gathering at local churches learning more about Jesus and serving Him together. It looks like people living their lives with an eye to the sky because they are ready to meet Jesus and look forward to His coming.
You can believe this. Either you will die, or Jesus will return while you are living. Both are facts. Be ready. Be sure your family and friends are ready. It will make a difference.
