Preparation

1 Chronicles 22:5 AMPC David said, Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the Lord must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death. Every great event needs some sort of preparation. If you want to redecorate a room, you have to wash and scrape off the walls in preparation for the new paint or wallpaper. (Don't be like the guy in my favourite advert https://youtu.be/zYhdXxPfPTA ) When going on holiday, you have to book your flights, get your tickets and passports. Life is full of preparations! The greatest event for which we should make preparation is our final departure. Where we will spend eternity needs the most vital attention. Jesus told the story of "The rich man and Lazarus" in Luke 16:19 onwards:

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’

“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’

“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

“‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

It is a really disturbing story where Jesus lifts the curtain to reveal the contrast of what awaits those with an active & compassionate faith and those who selfishly squander their life in pleasure without faith. It should be a stark warning to each of us to make the necessary preparations in this life, before it's too late.

Malachi 3:1 AMPC Behold, I send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me. And the Lord [the Messiah], Whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; the Messenger or Angel of the covenant, Whom you desire, behold, He shall come, says the Lord of hosts.

Don't get taken unawares, make preparations NOW!

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