It is difficult to express the love I have for the Body of Christ. Not just as is manifest in the church I pastor, but in all followers of Jesus Christ, who contend, earnestly, for the faith once delivers to the saints (Jude 1:3).
Those who follw the Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 9:23-26) are my family, no matter their country or ethnicity.
Considering this reality, it is at times difficult to say the hard things, the necessary things, which fuel a blessed Christian life and sanctification the sanctification in us, which brings glory to our Savior. Why is it difficult?
Because those called to rightly divide the word of truth (II Timothy 2:15), are works in progress themselves, like those they are to admonish, correct rebuke, if necessary and lead. It takes the Holy Spirit to say these difficult things with grace, care, truth and love (Ephesians 4:15).
The reason for my line of thought today is that I am very aware that reporting possible future calamities can cause unnecessary anxiety in the saints. To do so is never my intention, but in the interest of helping the body of Christ prepare for a potentiality, which will be difficult and a means of growing us in grace, away we go.
Recently, in the countries of the European Union and Great Britain, a warning was issued to the citizenry. The instructional warning was that all citizens store enough non-perishable food, water, light power, and cash for at least a three-day interruption in services. Germany has instructed its citizens to have at least ten days of vital supplies on hand.
The United States government is suggesting Americans do the same having a stockpile of 3 to 14 days. If that is not concerning enough the United States Department of Defense has issued the FORTRESS Initiative or Federal Operations for Resilience, Troop Resources, Energy, Supply, and Survivability.
This mandate compels all United States military bases, in the continental U.S. to have a 90-day supply of water, food, power, munitions and other resources, for the troops stationed in them, should some calamity force the bases to shut to the outside world. Note this is not for the citizens, who may be in need, but for the military itself to maintain operational readiness.
This initiative was just given, at a time when wars and rumors of wars, with escalation to global influence are raging and potential. This initiative was given for the purpose of surviving the extended interruption of global supply lines.
The breakdown of a society’s ability to function civially takes very little time and trouble, indeed. Take the ice storms so common to the Northeastern United States, which lead to long standing power outages.
A friend of mine, who world for an electric company in Upstate New York reported that a few days with outelectricity, in the winter months, is enough for citizens to accost line workers for not restoring power fast enough. Could you imagine the potential for violence in a scenario of weeks without power?
There are a number of scenarios which would bring the need for stored supplies to be used in an emergency. Among them are an esclation of war, weather catastrophes, cyber-attacks, political unrest, terror attacks and probably hundreds of others. The point is how should Christians live?
It is true that our Lord Jesus commands us very clearly to live in the day, not worrying about what we will eat or drink or put on. He instructs that worrying about even the basic needs, is to lack trust in Him. He contiunes that there is enough evil, in the day we are in, to pray about and trust God for our pathway through (Matthew 6:24-33)
Is it sinful or is it wise to store up three to ten days’ worth of supplies, in case there is a disruption?
If one is trusting in their supply it is sinful, for supplies run out, and if it the crisis is five days and your supply only three days, you’ll need to trust God for the rest.
I do believe it is wise to be prepared, to a certain degree, remembering WHO it is that gave you the ability to have more on hand. It is also wise to remember that if you have ten days supply for your family, and a brother or sister in Christ is in need, your supply is less, because we are to take care of our brethren.
Proverbs 3:27-28 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do so. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.
James 4:17 17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
Matthew 5:38-42 38 “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matthew 25:34-36 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
What can we do, beyond a wise stash of supplies, if we have the ability to do so?
First, trust in God, not in our ability to have enough to feel at peace. Truth told, enough is never enough and a little more makes us feel a little bit better, until it doesn’t. Trust that our Father knows what we need, before we ask (Matthew 6:8) and will give it to us when needed.
Philippians 4:19-20 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Reject the false faith, which implies and assumes that having faith in Jesus Christ means we avoid suffering. All men are born for trouble (Job 5:7), for the Christian, trouble comes the more sincere we are concerning our faith in Jesus and commitment to follow Him.
2 Timothy 3:12-15 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
To all the brethren, in all the world, be prepared without panic or trust in your supply—trust in the LORD to give you what us needed, when it is needed—be watchful for the needs of the brethren—be thankful—be anxious for nothing and hide His word in your heart (Philippians 6:4-8; Psalm 119:9-12).
Matthew 6:25-27 25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
Matthew 6:31-34 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Peace to you all in the Lord Jesus Christ and be continually filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-19).
Brother Michael
