Knowing that the Lord Jesus Christ has warned us about these and other things that are going to happen, we ought to begin to prepare ourselves for the days that lay ahead. Since what is happening in the world has its root causes in the spiritual realm, most of the preparations we need to make are spiritual in nature.

While I cannot specifically recommend preparations that should be made for physical survival, because every person’s natural situation is different, I do hope to provide guidance for spiritual well being. If we will seek the Lord’s will for our lives and then wholly submit ourselves to Him, we will be led by the Spirit in all things, spiritual and natural, and our Lord will provide. I cannot emphasize too strongly the necessity and urgency of spiritual preparation.

The Lord Jesus, who loves us more than any of us can comprehend, has revealed to us certain things that are going to take place in the future. We have been given these Divine revelations so that when these events begin to take place we will not be taken by surprise and also that we won‘t be fearful as we see these things taking place. The unbelievers will be surprised and terrified as these prophecies are fulfilled and when Jesus returns.

We know that these are some of the reasons that God has revealed these things to us because of what is written in the Word of God.

The prophecies that our Lord Jesus Christ has given us in his Word must, and certainly will, come to pass. Knowing this, we should prepare for that which we know is coming.

The most essential preparation that every person needs to make is to be saved. Unless we are saved from the sins that we have committed, we will be deceived and face the wrath of God. To be saved we must be saved God’s way. To be saved God’s way means that we must be saved by God. Jesus is God’s way to be saved. The Bible has been given to us by God so that we might know these things and come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Bible also assures us that once we have believed on Jesus Christ, we are saved and we have eternal life.

The Bible also tells us that Jesus is the only way we can come to God.

If you have not believed on Jesus Christ and asked him to save you, no other preparations you make will matter.

Every false religion in the world teaches that we must do something to make ourselves deserving of salvation. These religions teach that to come to God or to achieve some state of blessedness, we must do good works to become worthy of God’s acceptance. These beliefs base our reconciliation to God, either completely or in part, on the works that we do.

God has revealed to us in His Word that we must look to him, and him alone, in order to be saved. The Bible tells us that while we may and should do the works that the Lord commands us to do, salvation does not come as a result of our works. Salvation cannot be earned by trying to keep God’s law, but is the gift of God.

Then what is the purpose of God’s law?

We learn that the law is not the way of salvation, but that it is to teach us that we all have sinned and need to be saved by God. If the law is not the way of salvation, how then can we be saved and be made righteous before God?

The Bible tells us that while we cannot make ourselves righteous, God will make us righteous if we believe on Jesus Christ.

But now the righteousness of God without the

law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and

the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which

is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them

that believe: for there is no difference: For all have

sinned and come short of the glory of God: Being

justified freely by his grace through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to

be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare

his righteousness for the remission of sins that are

past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I

say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be

just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

(Romans 3:21--26)

Study God’s Word daily and, with God’s help, your faith will be increased and you will have a greater assurance of salvation. Since Jesus has done everything necessary for you to be saved, you can be certain that you are saved if you have asked Him to save you. God has provided salvation for us in Jesus Christ not because we are good, but because He is good.

When we study and meditate upon the Word of God (the Bible likens this to feeding our souls), our faith is increased and we have a clearer understanding of who Jesus is and His plan. We also find necessary peace and strength from God for each day and for the days to come.

In the Old Testament book of Daniel, the prophet Daniel was allowed by God to see events that will take place immediately before the return of Jesus Christ. These visions were so overwhelming that they sapped Daniel’s physical strength and left him unable to speak.

Daniel needed peace for his heart and soul after seeing the vision of the events that will take place in the latter days. Daniel also needed physical strength after beholding these things. God provided the peace and strength Daniel needed by speaking to him.

You and I need peace and strength from God every day. God gives us all that we need for life in this world, including that which we need for our spirit and soul. Life can be hard, even tough at times, and like Daniel, sometimes we are overwhelmed. The God who has created us knows this. One great token of His love for us is that He has provided an inexhaustible supply of peace and strength for us in His Word. Just as God spoke to Daniel to give him peace and strength, God speaks to us. God speaks to us through His Word, the Bible. God’s Word is powerful (see Hebrews chapter 4 verse 12) and, like God Himself, it is spirit and life.

The Bible speaks to our hearts and is the wellspring of all wisdom because its author is God.

Now, if Daniel needed peace and strength from God as he was overwhelmed by the vision of the last days, how much more will we need God’s peace and strength if Daniel’s visions come to pass in our day? And if these things that were seen by Daniel are not fulfilled in our day, will we not be much better off as we face life’s trials by feeding upon the Word and receiving a greater revelation of Jesus Christ?

While we are not saved by the works that we do, once we are saved we are given opportunities to serve in the Kingdom of God. If we prepare ourselves spiritually, by studying the Word, applying it to our hearts and the way that we live, we can recognize and make the most of those opportunities.

All of the commands that our Lord has given us that are essential for our spiritual growth and happiness. One such command that is often ignored by Christians to their own hurt is that we should meet together.

The spiritual growth of many Christians has been stunted, and even stopped altogether, because they have failed to faithfully keep this particular command of God.

As a pastor I have heard many say, “I don’t believe that you have to go to Church to go to Heaven.” O Christian, do you not know that your happiness is directly proportional to your trust in our Lord and obedience to His Word? How can you receive the manifold blessings of God that are bestowed through the gifts of the Spirit, if you do not meet and fellowship with those upon whom these gifts are bestowed? These gifts have been given to your brothers and sisters for your benefit. How can you use the gifts of the Spirit, which God has given you for the edification and blessing of His Church, if you do not meet with your brothers and sisters in Christ? We need to carefully consider the effect of our words and deeds upon our brothers and sisters in Christ. We must ensure that we use every opportunity that our Lord Jesus Christ gives us to provoke one another unto love and good works. We must meet with others who are part of the body of Christ. It is necessary that we exhort one another to be faithful to our Lord.

The Lord Jesus Christ is 100 percent faithful and will do everything he has said. As we read the Word, we will find that our fears are diminished, and our confidence in our Lord increases. When we put into practice the teachings of our Lord, we become more than hearers of the Word, we become doers also. It is then that we experience an exponential increase in understanding and in opportunities to serve our Lord.

The most important and immediate need that you and every other person has is to be saved. Once we have believed on Jesus Christ, being born again, we need to grow spiritually. The spiritual preparations for life today and the days that lie ahead are the most important preparations we must make. Spiritual growth can only take place if we study God’s Word, apply His teachings to our hearts, and then put them into practice in our daily lives.

But what about preparing for our physical needs? What about food and shelter? What about all of the other physical needs that I have?

Remember the words of our Lord Jesus,

We must also remember, though, that He promises to supply all our needs, not all our desires.

One of our greatest problems in our hearts is that we sometimes desire things that we either don’t need, or that God knows would be harmful to us. This is why God doesn’t always say “yes” to our requests.

 Our Lord, Jesus Christ, can provide for us in innumerable ways, even supernaturally, if necessary. Consider how he provided for the prophet Elijah:

God has recorded in this passage how he miraculously provided for his prophet during the three-and-a-half year drought. Our Lord can certainly do the same for His people today, if it is his will. There are many other instances recorded in God’s Word of how He has provided for His people.

God also works through what many consider ordinary ways to provide for us. In fact, all the blessings and provisions we now enjoy come from him come either by miracles or by what we consider ordinary means. These ordinary means which are used by God are really no less miraculous than the miracles that God uses.

God enabled Joseph to interpret dreams that God had given Pharaoh concerning a fourteen year period in which there would be seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine.

We see in God’s dealings with Joseph that He warned Pharaoh of the coming famine and also gave great wisdom to Joseph to lay aside a portion of the food that was produced during the time of great plenty.

In His Word, God has warned me of a time that is coming that is going to be worse than the droughts and famines of the Old Testament. These days could soon be upon us.

Now you might be asking, “Well Pastor, what do I do in my situation? Do I just go from day to day like Elijah, trusting God as He leads me? Or do I lay up provisions during this time of plenty, like Joseph?”

This is why spiritual preparations are essential, and we need to make them first. How can you know what God is saying to you, and what He would have you to do, if you have not studied His Word? If you do not come before God’s throne of grace regularly in prayer, how can you be on speaking terms with Him? If you are not applying God’s word to your heart and the way that you live now, how will you be able to follow His leading in the days that are ahead? Do you expect to hear God’s voice and for Him to reveal His will to you if you do not know what He says in His Word? Should you be surprised if God does not speak to you if you do not speak to Him in prayer? Why should God lead you then, if you do not follow him now?

Let us purpose to seek the Lord Jesus Christ with all our hearts, and then, having prepared spiritually, we will be ready to make preparations for the physical needs that we have. Let us live by faith today and everyday, looking to our Lord Jesus for everything we need, whether spiritual or physical. Remember, if we walk with Jesus today, we won’t have to run to catch up tomorrow.