Be Prepared

Long ago I read of a land where the inhabitants made pancakes so thin they only had one side. That's skinny. It would be like a picture of a pancake projected on a cloud with the appearance of a pancake but without the substance. When a strong wind came along it would be revealed for what it is.


So it is with life. To some degree, all of us are hiding behind a facade. Maybe, when things are going well, we project an image of strength; of "having it all together." Regardless of our image, crises will ultimately reveal who we really are. What has been, or will be, our reaction to bad news; to emergency situations; to temptation; to our doctor's determination that our death is imminent? Will our relationship to Christ prove to be real? Will the "peace that passes understanding" well up or will panic and dispair overwhelm us? Can we say with Paul,"To live is Christ; to die is gain" and mean it?

If we knew that a violent storm was headed toward us and certain to strike us there is little doubt that we would prepare to withstand it. It would be foolish to say,"I'm too busy now. I'll deal with it later." We shall all certainly face spiritual storms. There is no escape. Doesn't it make sense to prepare ourselves spiritually now instead of when the storm is at our doorstep?