I don’t know about you, but when God “speaks” to me, He tends to use incredibly short sentences. I’m guessing that’s because it’s all this tiny brain can handle.
Recently, I watched in awe along with fellow humans as the earth cast its shadow on the full moon causing it to be completely engulfed in darkness – well, except for the fact that the sun’s rays still lit it up making it turn an interesting redish color, hence the term “blood moon.” The most recent one was particularly exceptional because it marked the fourth time this event has happened in the past 2 years. Brainiac scientists as well as certain modern day religious figures have determined that is significant for a variety of reasons that I won’t go into here. If you’re curious about it, you can find a pluthera of info from a quick Google search.
Ok, that said…
As I watched the sky that evening – as that bright, huge ball of light overhead was slowly engulfed, it seemed almost in slow motion, bit by bit – one thing kept playing over and over in my mind: What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:4.
I thought, “God, can you see me down here?
I can’t believe that you can see me down here!
I can’t believe that you are seeing me down here!” … It’s almost too much to wrap my head around.
With all of the speculation in Christian circles about what this whole event could mean related to The End of Days (cue dramatic reverb), I thought of something else. When Jesus was on the earth he was pretty clear that no man knows the day or the hour of his return – only the Father (Matthew 24:36). He also shared several examples of how people are to live in expectation/anticipation of that return. He admonished us to be found faithful, to be good stewards of our time and resources, to be ready…
This led me to remember a time in my life where God impressed a similar message very specifically and personally to me. It was one of those in-between-life-kind-of-times where I didn’t know if I was coming or going. I felt aimless. I felt frustrated. Discontent. I felt desperate for direction…and all I felt like I heard from the Lord was “Keep Preparing.”
So I did – In my own little way that made sense at the time in my own little world. I readied my home. I readied my resume. I readied my Self. And then time would pass. From the outside looking in, nothing seemed to change. A standstill. More aimlessness. Frustration. Discontentment. Desperation. And one day as I was going through the motions of some mundane but necessary task, a louder “voice” in my spirit, “I didn’t tell you to START Preparing…I told you to KEEP Preparing.”
Whoa. That time I got it.
See we don’t always know what we’re “preparing” for, but as long as we are breathing breath there is always – always – some next thing.
For David it was humbling himself to know his calling and still be faithful to do what needed to be done in the moment (going back out to pasture and taking care of sheep) so that he could one day be king. For Joseph it was overcoming personal challenge after personal challenge (you thought your life was hard…how ‘bout getting thrown into a pit, sold into slavery and put in prison?). But, you see, he needed that survival skill preparation because one day he would be responsible for overseeing the sustaining of an entire nation. For Peter, it was simply “Follow me.” Peter wanted to play a comparison game. He didn’t want to just accept his marching orders. He wanted to know well, wha – wha – what about that guy? Jesus was having none of it. He basically said, it’s none of your business what I’m doing with him, I’ve told YOU to follow me! What Jesus knew that Peter didn’t, was that it would be on him, that He would build His church.
What is God whispering to your spirit today in preparation? It may be really big. Really hard. Really a stretch to even imagine. Or it may be really easy. Whatever it is, be found faithful. Be a good steward of your time, your talent, your treasure – Your life. Keep preparing. Be ready.
