Daily devotion – planning to be ready
Pro 16:9 A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
2Ki 20:1 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.’ ”
It is believed that all the planning and preparations for the late Queen Elizabeth 11 funeral was carried out by the Queen personally a great deal of time prior to her death.
King Hezekiah was told by the Lord directly to prepare himself for his soon time of death.
How well prepared are you for yours? Not sick, not old, have not given it any thought whatsoever? That is the bulk of most people living today. Forty West Australians will be dead before tomorrow and I wonder how many of them are prepared!
I have carried out a significant number of weddings and have witnessed massive planning for that special day. But I have at the same time seen very little planning for the actual marriage. Thus many fail!
The Bible tells us our lives are but a vapour – James 4:13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; 14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away”
I have spent a great deal of time with people who have been told that their lives are soon to end. Over the years I think differently to what so many others may think of such a situation as being more difficult knowing your time is short.
In my opinion I think that such notice can actually be of a great blessing. It gives you time to “set your house in order”. To draw close to God for His comfort and strength. To tell your loved one’s how much you love them and of where you will see them again if they have Christ as their Lord and Savior. To get ready to see the face of God for the first time! To go home finally. To catch up with those who have gone before you and are waiting.
But you must be ready. Today, how ready are you. Have you made plans for all those things that need to be ready?
The Queen did!