Prepared for the Future?

Prayer ~ Lord God, I want to “Be Prepared” as You have told us to be. I believe in You as my Lord and Savior. I continually confess my sins to You…and I know that I am forgiven. You are an awesome God—and I praise You and encourage others to believe in You…and to develop their own personal relationship with You. Now, I am at a loss for what next. Give me wisdom and understanding what else I need to do. You’ve given us a view into Your plan for the world…as You are unfolding it now before us.  

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. 2 Timothy 4:1-5

 

Meditate. Look at your relationship with the Lord. Are you “ready” for His return?

 

Balsam wildflowers
Spring is here.
Is this a favorable time?

Paul wrote to Timothy…Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. It is so ironic that like 2,000 years ago Paul was telling Timothy, the young Jewish kid he was discipling, that Jesus was returning and he should “be ready” or “be prepared” just like some preachers are saying today. The time is certainly more favorable today than it was in Paul’s day. Predictions, like the scattered Jews returning to the Promised Land, have been fulfilled. Has the Gospel been preached in all the nations? Has everyone really heard about God’s plan and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our sins? That is not an easy one to evaluate. Some who have heard certainly have not taken it to heart and believed. They would rather hear things like everyone who is good will go to heaven…or that all roads or ways of believing—whether it is Buddha or the Almighty God—are OK. Well, I’m here to tell you they are not. Everyone will have eternal life…either with the Father or without Him. Faith is the key. Believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God…as God Himself. Jesus said that the only way to the Father, and thus to an eternal life in Heaven with God, is through Him. He was speaking to His disciples…and it is recorded in the Bible for us to read and understand.

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

We are told over and over throughout the Bible to listen and obey God. The Israelites in the desert had the right idea. Listen to what God says. They wanted Moses to tell them what God expected of them because they wanted to obey.

Go yourself and listen to what the LORD our God says. Then come and tell us everything he tells you, and we will listen and obey.' ... So Moses told the people, "You must be careful to obey all the commands of the LORD your God, following his instructions in every detail. Stay on the path that the LORD your God has commanded you to follow. Then you will live long and prosperous lives in the land you are about to enter and occupy. Deuteronomy 5:27, 32-33

Can you believe that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life—and the key to our eternal security? Can you listen and obey? Are you prepared for the future?

 

Verse of Salvation ~ You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15

 

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5

 

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

Books by Mickey M. Hunacek

Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com

 

Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character

Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories