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Preparedness

By Ron Graham

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“The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;” Proverbs 30:25. I’ve received a few inquiries in recent months as to whether Christians should store up food and supplies and buy gold and silver all in anticipation of what they see coming on the horizon. The answer is yes and no. If you see a benefit in storing up for the winter as the ants do, then by all means do so. Catastrophic storms, such as just occurred along the east coast of the US, would be cause for preparedness. Weather anomalies happen quite frequently these days and in such cases a safety net of a full pantry, in case stores run out of goods, doesn’t mean we’re being unfaithful, but practical. If you have a savings account on hand, just in case of an emergency, that too can be a good thing. But attempting to store up in anticipation of what the Bible clearly states will occur in the last days prior to Christ’s return is folly.



Here’s an example of being prepared for common disruptions. The pump in our water well went out recently and we had to have it replaced. We had no water until the new pump was installed. We went to the store and purchased as much water as we could get in our car. The pump was installed the next day and we ended up using very little of the water we purchased. God provided the funds to purchase the new pump and the well drilling company was very efficient and timely. We hardly felt the effects of no water. We had relied on God to provide the funds as we abide in Him, and He did. “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. God made a promise to the faithful that He would provide for our needs. God never breaks His promises. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19.



How about storing up for what God tells us is coming in the last days, and which the signs of the times point to as imminent? We cannot store enough of anything to last through what’s coming. The big question is why would we even attempt such foolishness? I received an email from a person in South Korea asking about storing up supplies of food as well as other commodities. My answer to this person was that storing up supplies in an attempt to stave off the rising cost of those things would certainly be a benefit, short term yes, but still a benefit. But being prepared for what the Bible tells us is coming in the last days is something else altogether. It’s never a bad idea to have extra supplies food, water, even medical supplies on hand in case there’s an emergency. When we lose power here at the Graham residence we have a generator to produce enough power to run our refrigerator and a few other essentials. But when the last days arrive, gas to run generators will be nonexistent. In a very small way, what we see occurring in some communities on the east coast of the US is an example of what life on earth will be like without power, or fuel for generators, or food and water.



Storing up commodities to stave off the approaching catastrophic end times may seem beneficial to many people, but nothing will suffice; all commodities will run out long before those times reach their zenith. Nothing can be done for those in that situation. Oh sure, governments may build huge underground bunkers with enough stored food and other supplies to support a few privileged people for an extended period of time, but average citizens don’t have the resources of those governments. Even if we did the terrible times that are coming will not exclude anyone who remains here during the Great Tribulation. No one will be able to hide from God in a bunker.



What God tells us in His word is coming will affect everyone on earth; it will not be partitioned off by the haves and the have not’s. The suffering will be worldwide and no matter what you think you can do to prepare yourself there is only one sure and effective way to be prepared for what’s coming, and it doesn’t include storing food, water, or munitions.



Jesus gave us a heads up of what’s to be expected during the last days of planet earth. He did so not merely to afford an answer to His disciples who were pressing Him for details concerning the last days and His return, but to enlighten everyone who would hear and heed His words. There’s a decision to be made, and many have already made it to their own detriment.



“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. We have no cause to fear what’s coming. We have not been given the spirit of fear, but we have been given power and a sound mind. Storing up years worth of supplies for what the Bible plainly explains is coming shows a lack of faith in the One who has told us over and over again to fear not. Why would God tell us to fear not and then place us in the precarious position where fear becomes overwhelming? The only people who should be fearful are those who have abandoned God, they are those who will remain on earth, after the followers of Jesus Christ have been removed, and they will be forced to endure or perish.



My wife, daughter, and I have a pantry. We try to keep it well stocked. We do this because it is costly to run into town to buy groceries every day or so. It’s an eighteen mile trip into town and back to our home. There are good reasons to have a few extra items on hand, and each time we go to town we buy extra so the need to return to the store is not so pressing. This concept is just common sense (a sound mind).



Preparing for the inevitable is not difficult. Your Bible tells you what’s coming in the last days and clearly the prelude to those days has arrived. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to evaluate and discern the times. Humanity has been given all the information it needs to avoid a most horrible end. Spiritual preparations should be underway as the Gospel of peace is being preached around this world. The Ekklesia of Christ is given the task to spread the Gospel, not to store food and other commodities in preparation for the last days here on earth. Knowing Jesus Christ is the only preparedness anyone need undertake.



“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.” Luke 21:16. People will turn on one another, and that includes family members. There will be full disruptions in all the norms of the day. There are indescribably horrible times coming upon the earth. “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:26. Everything we currently take for granted will cease to be available. Normal flows of commodities, what it takes to live from day to day, will be nonexistent. All the current amenities that so many people enjoy and have grown accustomed to, even dependent upon, will no longer be available. There will be famine in every land (divers places). This will drive the average Joe to commit the most heinous of crimes against his brother. The sickness that will ensue will not be tolerable; many will perish in extreme agony.



So, you’ve made up your mind to accumulate a year or two worth of supplies in order to stave off the coming cataclysmic end times. Well, it just so happens that you are going to need another 4 or 5 years worth of supplies once your current supply is gone. Where on earth are you going to go to make your purchase of those supplies? There will be nothing to buy and you haven’t even reached the beginning point of the real bad times. “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” Revelation 6:6. What this verse is saying in today’s vernacular is in those days a scrap of bread will buy a bag of gold. All that gold and silver you’re currently hoarding will be useless. Who is going to sell you a piece of bread for a bag of gold when they themselves are perishing due to their own hunger?



The children of God have no need to seek solace in what they can store up in anticipation of the end catastrophic times. We won’t be here. “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10. God has promised to extract His Children from off the face of the earth prior to those final seven years. While the Christ rejecters try and fend for themselves in a world gone completely into disarray and decay, the rest of us will be enjoying the promises of God – in Heaven.



“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1. Our preparedness began in our hearts when we said yes to Jesus Christ. That profession of faith is our hope. At the point when we first believed we became Christ’s property. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:13-14. Christ’s peculiar people are His possession.



“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10. Christ’s Ekklesia has nothing to fear from the coming wrath. We will be spared from His wrath which will be poured out on the children of disobedience during the Great Tribulation. The Christ rejecters have much to fear. “For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:” Colossians 3:6.



All the extreme measures of preparedness that I read about on blogs and some news sites everyday will do nothing to stave off the approaching last days doom and gloom. For those who’ve chosen to reject Christ it’s their lot to bear.



For those of you who don’t know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, this last paragraph is intended for you. Jesus Christ is the answer to being prepared. He alone will provide you with the peace you so desire. Tap into His promises and forget the foolishness of the self-preparedness crowd. Become the property of Jesus Christ by saying yes to Him, and you will have accepted His free gift of salvation. When you do this simple thing, everlasting life is yours. Then watch out, because in that moment you will be changed into a child of God. Everything will be different after that. Instead of storing up treasures on earth you’ll be passing out your earthly surplus to the needy as you store up treasures for yourself in Heaven.



God bless you all,



Ron Graham



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Zechariah 12:3,9:
And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people; And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.


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Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.



Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee

This man seems to think "kept" means "extracted out of"; I wonder if he thinks he has "extracted the word of my patience from off the face of the earth?" since the same verse says "thou kast kept the word.

Mt 28:4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

Perhaps this man thinks "keepers" extract people from out of the face of a prison"?

Ac 12:6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

I suppose this man thinks "keepers" "keep" by "extracting from the face of the earth?" What do keepers do? GUARD. Those that have GUARDED the word of patience will be GUARDED by the WORD OF GOD in the time of testing. Alas for this one; he has not kept, and if he turn not from his false doctrine, he will neither be kept from the hour: and will surely not stand.

Jer 8:9 The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the LORD; and what wisdom is in them?
Ho 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me.