But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; 1 Peter 3:15
It’s always a good idea to be prepared for things that are eventually going to happen or at least have a high probability of happening. For example, you do not know exactly when it is going to rain next, but there is a very good chance that it is eventually going to rain, so it is prudent to be ready for that eventuality by having an umbrella handy.
Your vehicle (hopefully) has a spare tire and jack, not because you are planning on having a flat tire but because there is a chance that sometime in your years of driving you will have need of a spare tire; it’s just a matter of being prepared for the possibility. It’s not a certainty that you will ever need it but it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!
If you live in an area that has freezing winters, there are certain things that need to be done to be ready for winter. The same holds true for those who live in areas that are prone to experience hurricanes or tornadoes or earthquakes or tsunamis or any other particular event. The details may vary but the answer is the same — be ready!
All of these examples are of a physical nature and seem, on the surface to be obvious, but there are plenty of cases of people being caught in the rain! The bottom line is, even though we know these things can happen, it’s easy to put the preparation for them off or even put it out of mind and go on with life as though it’s never going to rain. Sort of like all of the people on earth in the days of Noah; you see how that turned out for them.
And what about spiritual preparedness, what can you do to be ready for what may or may not be coming as well as for what surely is coming? First, let’s look at the maybe situations; what if, as our verse brings up, someone asks you about your faith and hope you have in Jesus, what do you do? Always be ready to give a defense, to make your case for Christ. What if that situation never arises? It will, if not sooner then for sure later. The details are not your concern, just be ready. Always be ready.
What if you face tribulation and go through trials in this life? Given all of the evil that is in this world and what we read in the Word of God (Jesus said in the sixteenth chapter of John that you would have tribulation in this world but He has overcome the world) this is a given. So, what can be done in trying times? The time to prepare for the storm is not in the middle of the storm, the key is to be ready for the storm so that when it comes, you have everything you need to weather the storm and nothing will be lost.
So, it is with the storms of life, as you grow in your relationship with the Lord and spend time with Him and His Word, you are preparing for anything that may come your way. If (or we could say when) the storm comes, you don’t have to get ready; you are ready. And, there is one thing that is surely coming one day — Jesus is coming back for His own. You do not know the day or hour of His return, so what can you do? Be ready!
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