Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Disaster Preparedness - What is a Christian's Responsibility?

As Christians, what should be our role in disaster preparedness? This question has never been of greater significance than today. In fact, it is absolutely vital that we weigh in on this issue. We can no longer afford to sit on the fence and let others debate this topic for us. Each one of us needs to be fully persuaded in his own mind. We each must decide what Jesus Christ expects of us personally, based on what He says in His Word.

Many Christians are taught that doing physical works of preparedness is a lack of faith. That it shows a lack of trust in Jesus Christ, our provider. But is this really true? We are all familiar with I Tim. 5:8 which says, "But if any provide not for his own, and especially those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel." This scripture is referring to more than just "going to work" and "paying the bills", and "putting food on the table". The word "provide" actually means to "consider in advance, i.e. look our for beforehand." This is interesting. Jesus is telling us that in order to properly provide for our house, we must be able to forecast, in advance,the potential problems coming our way, and to act accordingly. This is putting our faith into practice. Otherwise we have "denied the faith".

God tells us in Proverbs 27:12, "A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself: but the simple pass on and are punished." This scripture tells us that those who cannot foresee in advance the coming evil are actually punished! That when the coming flood of problems arise, they will be swept away by it--because they did not prepare in advance for this disaster. Remember Noah? Hebrews 11:7 says, "By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house." The Holy Bible is our road map. This story is written for us! Almighty God in heaven is thundering to those of us who can hear Him. "The flood is coming, children! Start preparing!" Floods and storms and evil is coming. In fact, it is here now. What are you doing right now to prepare to save your family? Will you be able to provide for them when disaster strikes?

The world is standing on the precipice of an enormous, catastrophic collapse. Massive earth changes from a polar shift is bearing down on us. Terrible famine, horrible pestilence , apocalyptic warfare, and persecution of Biblical proportions is looming. Yet, why should we be surprised by all this? Isn't this what Jesus warned us about in His Word? Are we the "simple" who blindly continue along just waiting for the evil to overtake us? Or, are we the "prudent" who can foresee this and are taking steps to avoid it? If we are not preparing for the coming disasters, both spiritually and physically, we will fall. Not only will we fall, but our entire house will fall--and great will be the fall of it!

Furthermore, if you're not preparing because you are waiting for the "rapture", you're in big trouble. Because--there is no pre-tribulation rapture. Nor is there any Biblical evidence for one. The word rapture is not even in the Bible. Also, if you are waiting for an angel to come and knock at your door and whisk you off to safety--you better think again. It's not that this can't happen. It's not that this won't happen in a few special cases. But, its that Jesus expects us to act on faith before the event to show our faith. To witness our faith to others and for others. Doing nothing, and yet waiting for God to do it for us is displeasing to Him. "Faith without works is dead." We must "walk in the steps of our faith" by taking action.

Whether we prepare for a localized flood, power outage, hurricane, or earthquake-- or worldwide famine, pestilence or warfare--it's all the same. It take spiritual preparation to survive a spiritual crisis. And it take physical preparation to survive physical crisis. The Great Tribulation bearing down upon us is a literal physical one, and must be physically survived. But, it is also physically occurring for spiritual reasons. Therefore to completely survive, one must be prepared spiritually as well. The issue of spiritual preparedness will be covered in future articles. But for now, suffice it to say, without adequate physical preparations, we will not be able to provide for our house.

This is the purpose of this article and future articles. To help Christians prepare for the coming storm. To direct them to sources of food and equipment necessary for survival, as well as provide them with the knowledge and tips needed to make these challenging times more easily weathered. Pray about it, use the links at the end of this article, and take action!

C.L. Carr has been living off the grid, "in the wilderness" for many years Interests include, solar and non-electric living, gardening, survival skills, self-sufficiency and Biblical studies.. For more insightful information and strategies for survival please visit http://emergencyfoodpreservation.blogspot.com or http://survivalcentral.blogspot.com

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