We have entered a very dangerous time in history. If we are not right with God and have our trust placed solidly in Him, as the future devolves into chaos, overwhelming evil will emerge leaving an unprepared person without hope.

Many times, when a nation is in financial straits like we are, it goes to war. The Military-Industrial Complex is salivating at the profits to be gained from yet another war. Joining that complex is a pharmaceutical element forming a greedy trinity of bondage.  Our political system has proven worthless to affect meaningful change. The abdication of the responsibility of our political leaders is increasing the lament of the people they are supposed to selflessly serve. A restless and unprepared people will begin to display their displeasure in the public square and demand regime change. These elements are a recipe for social disaster.

To move through the uncertainty of the future requires two kinds of preparation. The first preparation is spiritual. If you are a believer, make sure you are living each day in an intimate relationship with Jesus. Being close to Him will open our ears to hear the kind of wisdom we will need to move through uncertain times and address the challenges that will come. The second kind of preparation is practical, “A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences” (Proverbs 27:12).

Many leaders in the Church do not entertain the latter kind of preparation thinking that only providing spiritual insight is enough. To be prepared is not about preaching a shopping list to prepare for the future. It is simply broaching the topic and raising the awareness of the people they lead to align their spiritual understanding with the reality of a future that is fast approaching. 

To love our neighbor as ourselves requires that we understand the contextual struggles people are experiencing and address the reality of what may be coming. To dismiss such things, even mocking those who take practical steps of prudent preparation, is the action of a spiritual simpleton. It leads people to a place of unnecessary ignorance that will have dire consequences. 

Jesus said, “My peace I leave with you” (John 14:27). With that peace we can rethink the world around us and prudently prepare for the future. The peace of the Lord will become a calming presence in our lives when the world turns upside down and we have been prepared both spiritually and physically for the future.