Prepare to Stand, not prepare to Survive

Having just finished a weekend of celebrations for Thanksgiving here in Canada, I have been thinking along the lines of "preparations". So much time, money, planning, and effort goes into 'preparing' for this day. Preparing/preparations for so much, whether it's Thanksgiving, Christmas, our future - whatever - it occupies and preoccupies our thoughts and our lives.

In the present state of economic instability & chaos, (some economists say that we are experiencing what they have labelled an 'economic tsunami'), you hear alot these days concerning what can be done & the necessary preparations: for example for coming food shortages, for environmental changes and disasters looming on the horizon, for fuel shortages hurricane predictions, economic recession, etc.

There are radio and television analysts, as well as politicians, who eagerly clamor & examine these issues with determination and resolve that they will lead the people towards the necessary changes & preparations. Their promise is if we will but 'prepare' ourselves for these days ahead, we will be able to 'save ourselves' and escape tribulations and devastation, economic woes, and collapse of pensions, uncertainties pertaining to our futures. Also, I have seen many interesting websites of which it seems their main goal is to 'warn and prepare people' for calamities; to provide various items for emergency scenarios. There is an array of various inventions that are available for purchase, said to be useful (according to their literature) to protect against various catastrophes, to aid 'preparedness' for all manner of necessities; power shortages, nuclear attack, and on and on it goes.

But I got to thinking. Whoa, wait a second. What does the Bible teach? First of all, imagine the energy that would be necessary & could be expended towards these preparations as well. Would there ever be an end to it? Imagine how all consuming this preoccupation could quickly become, and take hold of someone; it could become an all-consuming need, driven by & thriving on fear, on the hope of being able to fully 'prepare' oneself and store up' for the days of trouble just around the corner.

But if I look at the Bible, the message isn't 'prepare to survive'. It's prepare to stand! Our hope is in Him. Has He changed? Is He the same yesterday, today and forevermore? The world wants to survive but we know God has great things in store for those who love Him! He wants us to stand on the solid Rock of His Son and declare our God is forever and eternal! God would have us know that He is with us, He is faithful, and so we must prepare ourselves to STAND! Spend time in His presence and allow God's power through His Holy Spirit to search us, to prepare within us a sanctuary. He's our stronghold .

So, instead of being preoccupied (though it's tempting) with trying to prepare for calamities that we are told are looming, or prepare for the unknown and going into survival mode, let's all joyfully welcome more of the Holy Spirit who wants to stir up the faith that is within us that we may stand! What a treasure in our earthen vessels! That we might stand before Him! God said that we can come boldly before Him (with joy in our hearts) "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:6

I am convinced that those who have went before us, through the centuries, faced their own chaos and economic catastrophes. What were there preparations? WEll, certainly first of all they recognized that they no longer fought against human beings. This was completely finished with the New Covenant. They recognized their struggle was against principalities in the heavenlies.

Imagine telling Corrie TenBoom to save up and make preparations ! I think it's so encouraging to think about them and their faith. And how much they loved God and devoted themselves entirely to the Lord. They thrived not because they made preparations for all manner of catastrophies, (that did come upon them). Jesus said and I truly believe they survived with a great witness to the keeping power of God because they prepared to stand before God! They took God's Word into their hearts and sowed precious seed in the hearts of even and most importantly, their worst enemies. They were empowered to stand, to withstand the most cruel and harsh, degrading human conditions on the earth so powerfully, with a fierce love of Christ that would not at any cost be denied. They withstood as it says in Ephesians all evil principalities & rulers because they clothed themselves in His armor. As all others who have been so courageous and withstood every form of evil had done so before us. Eph. 6:10-18

10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
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.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;