As I sit here, fingers poised to upload the final edits of my new book, The Amateur Prepper’s Pocket Guide to Creating an Emergency Plan, my mind is on the 295 passengers and crew who perished on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17. My condolences go out to all who have been affected by this horrific tragedy.
I believe that for many people, the thought of stepping into eternity is something that is continually pushed forward into some vague point in the distant future. Sure, we’re all going to die some day…but surely not today.
Some of us even face the idea with humor, like the Flight 17 passenger, Cor Pan, whose last Facebook post included a photo of what is considered to be the Malaysian Boeing 777 taken just before boarding. Mr. Pan’s post, an apparent reference to the disappearance of Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 in March, read, “If it disappears, this is what it looks like.” I would hazard a guess that neither Mr. Pan nor any of the other victims who stepped onto that plane had serious thoughts that their flight would be shot down from the sky only a short time after takeoff. Even if the thought had crossed one’s mind, short of not boarding, how would someone prepare for a disaster like this? You can’t in the natural.
Don’t misunderstand. I am huge preparedness advocate. My twelve years of disaster response has cemented the belief that everyone needs a disaser plan; however, no matter how much we plan and prepare for disasters and emergencies, there will be a point in time for each person when emergency preparedness fails. At that moment the only plan that will matter is the plan you have made as to where you will spend eternity.
There IS one Emergency Plan that a person can put in place that will never fail. That plan is to accept the free gift of eternal salvation that is offered by God’s son, Jesus Christ. The Bible tells us in Romans 3:10, “as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:23 goes on to say, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Okay, so we’re all in the same boat. No one is born more righteous than anyone else.
Not me.
Not you.
So what does that sin do to us? Romans 6:23 answers that question, but then goes on to give us the good news of the gospel, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
You might think, ‘That’s nice, but what does that mean?’ You might even be wonder who this Jesus person is. I am reminded how easy it is to take for granted that everyone has heard the message of how God, the creator of heaven and earth, had a plan to make sure that His creation (you and me) would be able to spend eternity with Him once we passed from this natural world.
Sin has a penalty. That penalty is death or separation from God. You may not have heard how, as John 3:16-17 so simply explains, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
One might then ask the question, “So how do I do that? Where do I go to get that gift?” Romans 10:13 tells us that anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10: 8b-10 instructs us, “…The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
“That’s it?” you ask. Yep…at least, that’s the initial step of your “eternal emergency plan.” If you haven’t already done so, you should do that right now. It’s easy: 1. Confess Jesus as YOUR Lord. 2. Truly Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. 3. Receive the fact that you are now saved (also called born-again). Once you’ve done that, you’ll continue developing your eternal emergency plan by starting to read God’s awesome love letter that we call the Holy Bible. You’ll also want to talk to God as you go about your day…and give Him time to speak to your heart. The next step of your plan will be to find a good, Bible-believing and teaching church where you can fellowship with other believers and learn more of how God’s Word can impact your life.
It’s the beginning of a relationship with a loving God who doesn’t want to play church with you, but wants intimate fellowship with you. That comes over time as you talk to God, share with Him your hopes, dreams, fears and failures and as you listen to the prompting of His Holy Spirit as He guides you throughout life.
It is my hope that, even as you develop an emergency or disaster plan to address the daily emergencies you might find yourself facing, you will include an eternal emergency plan as well.
Grace and peace,
Sandi Bird Aldridge
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