I was a Boy Scout for about two years way back when, advancing to the rank of 2nd Class. The knots always gave me trouble! But every Boy Scout, even if he never makes it to Eagle, understands their motto: "Be prepared".
It's a good motto, especially for Christians who live in a world of the unexpected. Hey, that's all of us, isn't it?
Lately I've been thinking a lot about what I call "crisis christians". (You'll note that I didn't capitalize the word "christian"). These are folks who acknowledge God's reality; even go so far as to go along with Jesus and His claim to divinity. But they coast through life spiritually, never pushing in the clutch and putting their spiritual lives in gear - until a crisis confronts them.
Remember the aftermath of 9-11 and how the following few weeks the churches were filled? There's an example of "crisis christians" on a national scale.
But it doesn't have to be a terrorist attack. It can be a failing marriage; being handed a pink slip; finding out that your 401K is half what it was a year ago; hearing the dreaded "C" word from your doctor.
All these are crises that cause some to think, "I need to get some God in my life". But those people, while well meaning, rush to God (I imagine He says, "And where have you been?") only when trouble brews. As soon as the waves calm, they go back to their pre-crisis brand of christianity. It's in the head, not in the life.
It all goes back to preparation. If life's storms totally catch you off guard and slam you to the mat, guess what? You weren't ready. You weren't prepared.
In my devotions this morning I read this:
If you are spiritually prepared when a crisis comes, you will not have to try to develop instantly the quality of relationship with Christ that can sustain you. If you suddenly have an opportunity to share your faith with an unbeliever, you will be equipped to do so. If you enter a time of worship spiritually prepared, you will not miss an encounter with God. If you are spiritually filled when you meet a person in sorrow, you will have much to offer. If you have established safeguards in your life in advance, you will not give in to temptation.
Christians lose many opportunities to experience God’s activity because they have not devoted enough time to their relationship with God. If you have not yet developed the habit of daily prayer and Bible study, why not begin now, so that you will be equipped for whatever life brings?
40 Days of Prayer was intended to be a time of preparation for us as a church for the 40 Days of Purpose that begin with tonight's Kick off Rally. I hope you've been preparing for whatever God brings our way in the next 6 weeks.
