Have you heard the saying: “Forewarned is Forearmed”? According to a quick internet search the expression dates from the end of the 16th Century, and forearm is an archaic verb meaning “to arm in advance.” I was reminded of it on Sunday when Pastor Greg spoke on Jesus’ words of warning about his second coming in Matthew 24:36-44: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come…”
I remember talking to a friend after the wildfires in 2007. The suddenness of that event spurred him to get all his important papers and anything else he didn’t want to lose all together in one place in his house, ready to go if and when needed. Knowing how detailed and meticulous this friend is, I imagine he’s updated those files several times since then.
In vivid contrast, I have no such system. Neither does my husband. When I asked him what he would take in such an event, he shrugged his shoulders and said he would just get out of the house. I would at least grab my purse. (We women have everything but the kitchen sink in those things, you know?)
Preparation – in the material sense of the word – is obviously not our strong suite! But when it comes to living in a state of readiness for the coming of Jesus, we’re set. Why? Because we have a daily, on-going relationship with Jesus. We talk with him every day.
Singer-song writer Michael Card, on his CD “The Penultimate Question” sings a song titled, “The Kingdom.” In it he reminds us that the Kingdom of God is one that is “So near and yet still so far, far away.” There’s a certain tension in not knowing when Jesus will return, isn’t there? But there’s also comfort in knowing that we have been forewarned. God saw to it when he inspired the writing of the Bible. And that’s all the forearming I need!
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