I used to live in that world, too. You know how much I believe the Word of God is true and realistic, not simply the greatest ideals in history. What I have discovered is that God expects us to use the skills and intelligence He has given us, to do what every generation before ours learned to do. I know that our nation was founded by people who believed the Bible. If they had not been men and women of faith, they would not have believed it possible to pull away from the most powerful nation in the world at that time (England) and establish the colonies as a free nation. But, here is what you need to know about these people. With the exception of a few wealthy people and city dwellers, the masses of that day occupied their lives with preparing.
People of great faith were rising each day and eating foods that they had grown in the last growing season. They were eating animals that they were caring for so that they would have food in the days ahead. In the Spring they planted and raised crops so that they would have food in the summer to eat fresh,and food to can and store for the fall, winter, and spring of the next year. This has been the process that the world has gone through in a cycle for centuries. They did not think they were violating scripture by growing food and putting it away. They thought that the people who did not prepare were violating scripture by being lazy and not providing for their families. They recognized that the food they had was a blessing from God. They were aware that there could be years of famine or pestilence. These same people were reading their Bibles and seeing men like Joseph from the Old Testament laying aside food for the future. They did not think less of him for that.
So what happened? Prosperity and convienience! We have become convinced that full grocery stores and regular pay checks are what should be expected. If we think otherwise, we are perceived as a negative person who does not have faith. Isn't it sad that we can be so accustomed to a way of life that did not exist a few generations ago, that we would forget what the biblical generations were doing when Jesus told them not to worry about tommorrow? He was not telling them to stop making preparations for food for the year ahead. He was telling them not to make this the primary reason for life. They, and we, are to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and know that He will add the other things. Don't stop providing for yourself and your family. Stop wasting your time worrying about it and get to work. Remember what Paul said, "If they won't work they should not eat!"
What opportunities have you had at LCBC to make preparations so far? We had the Crisis Preparation Event in April. We made the church aware of a group purchase of a water filtration unit for your home called a Big Berkey, and we are inviting people to get started on some long term food storage. It is not too late to store some supplies. The table with the one gallon shiny cans will have a sign up sheet for those who would like to get started in this process. In a time of crisis it is aways best to be in the position that Paul shared with us from the words of Jesus, "It is better to give than to receive".
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