I get a daily email from BookBub (www.bookbub.com, if you’re
interested), which shows me the daily deals for my Kindle or other reading app:
cheap to free bargains on books in the categories I’m interested in. I have noticed that lately, there is a marked
increase in books dealing with the end of the world, or being prepared for the
end of the world. I wonder if the overwhelming sales of zombie books and movies
speak to our collective unconscious fear of the inevitability of runaway viruses
and/or the breakdown of our “safe world”.
Here in PNG, we get Indonesian satellite TV, and one of their public
service announcement commercials gives a brief overview of what every family
should have on hand in case of emergencies or disasters. It is shown
frequently, and has done since we arrived a year ago. All we have to do is read
the news headlines to know that the way of life as we knew it in the 20th
century may never return.
So, how do we respond to these seemingly imminent threats to
our health, safety, and prosperity? Do we bury our heads in the sand, and give
in to the magical thinking that somehow things will return to status quo? Or do
we stockpile food and guns in the hopes that we can protect our immediate
family from those pesky neighbors who didn’t prepare? (Seriously, as
Christians, we’re going to shoot people if they’re hungry? That’s what Jesus
would do? That year’s supply of food will last a month or less if we do as we
should and give to those in need…) I’m not suggesting that we shouldn’t be wise
and put back a little for disasters or emergencies, or go to the Doctor when we're sick, but this whole
end-of-the-world “prepper” scenario is a little unrealistic. The fact is, at
some point we have to decide whether or not we are going to trust God to
provide and take care of us, even in the direst of circumstances.
The best kind of preparation we can do is of the heart.
Do I know my Word so well that in times of trouble it
comforts me, guides me, and gives me direction? Do I endeavor to operate in
faith on a daily basis so that when I have to, I already have a foundation to
build from? Do I go to the doctor before I pray, as a matter of course, or am I
praying for healing –and believing for it- as I go? Am I spending time with Him
and learning to hear that still small Voice saying, “this is the way, walk ye
in it?” Obviously, this is a work in progress for all of us, but better to
start now than falling away because we don’t know how to exercise our faith
when we really need it. Historically, whenever a people have become so
complacent they have ceased to look to God for their daily needs, He allows
them to come into crisis, because that’s when they turn back to Him, or fall
away in anger.
This scripture from Matthew comes to mind. Jesus
said:
"‘ The stone which the builders rejected,
This became the chief corner stone;
This came about from the Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes ’?
Therefore I say to
you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people,
producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to
pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust” Matt. 21:42-43
My take on this scripture is that, if we don’t make Jesus
our chief foundation stone- our whole foundation for life- we will not stand.
Yes, if we fall on Christ now, becoming completely dependent on Him, He will
require things of us: change, holiness, faith, obedience, the fruit of the
Spirit, brokenness… Still, it’s better than the Rock falling on us, grinding us
to powder! If we judge ourselves now, we won’t have to be judged by Him later.
God may very well use the upcoming world scenarios to test our faith and
resolve to follow Him no matter the cost, and to make us fit sons (and
daughters) of His.
I want to be in the position that, if I don’t have enough
food, I trust God to fill my pot, or my stomach. If I’m in physical danger, I trust Him to keep me safe, or bring me triumphantly into heaven. If I’m sick, that He
will heal me; in need of a miracle, He’ll provide one; my tank empty of gas,
He’ll fill it; persecuted for my faith; give me words to say.
I’m not there yet, but my PNG circumstances have gently
pushed me in that direction. I definitely have had to trust Him more for healing,
because the medical system here is both substandard and expensive. As I sit
here writing this, there are lines of cars jamming up the roads waiting for gas
at the stations that still have some. There is some dispute going on that has
caused no gas to be delivered to the stations here in Port Moresby. Someone was
on the side of the road today, charging 50k for 5 liters ($20 for a little more
than a gallon). Our CEO doesn’t know if he has enough left in his car to get
home (35 minutes away). Most of the local labor here gets to work riding the
busses, but if there’s no gas, there will be a quick shutdown of maybe even essential
services. We have a generator at the farm, if the electricity goes out (which
it does several times most days), but it runs on GAS! So potentially, the
frozen and refrigerated food could spoil. I could feel panicked, but somehow, I
don’t. This past year has really strengthened my belief that God is in control
of my life, and all I have to do is trust Him. Truly, “my times are in His
hands”.
