Be Prepared

For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief at night. When people are saying, "Peace and security," then sudden disaster comes upon them, like labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3

Yesterday, I was in a meeting of Climate Change Congress of the Philippines (CCCP) to organize a La Nina Summit. The main goal is to help individuals, families, and communities prepare for heavy rains causing floods, just like the one in Ondoy. The problem is that we only react when the flood has arrived. We need to be prepared anytime disaster strikes.

In the same way, it is a challenge for us to always be prepared spiritually. When my dad died last December of 2009, during his wake, the people in the room beside us was mourning for a 31 year old man who died in a sudden accident. I realize that I have to do the following: make peace, confess regularly, make everyday count.

Peace is something every person values. It is important that relationships are restored. We have to learn to forgive and ask forgiveness. Peace is a gift of grace. It is usually not something that we earn or are worthy of. It is freely given. Even if the person whom we need to forgive logically does not deserve it, we give it out of the grace of God's love.

When he began the accounting, a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount. Since he had no way of paying it back, his master ordered him to be sold, along with his wife, his children, and all his property, in payment of the debt. At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.' Moved with compassion the master of that servant let him go and forgave him the loan. When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a much smaller amount. He seized him and started to choke him, demanding, 'Pay back what you owe.' Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he had him put in prison until he paid back the debt. Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master and reported the whole affair. His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?' Matthew 18:24-33

Confessing regularly helps us to become better Christians. It is an indicator of humility and sincerity in living out as a Christian. We regularly seek for the Lord's forgiveness and strive not to repeat our sins until good works become habitual. This definitely helps us to be prepared for the Lord.

Making everyday count, is something that people who have terminal illnesses like cancer, advocate to the rest of us. They see the value of life and what they can still do. We don't have to wait to be struck with sickness for us to realize that each day is a gift and that each day we can bring people closer to the Lord. We may have to evaluate our priorities. We may have to ask ourselves, "Am I storing up riches that will not last? Or Am I storing up riches in heaven that is eternal?" Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Mark 10:21).

The famous Boy Scout motto suggests, "Be Prepared." I believe this is the kind of posture that the Lord wants us to have in our daily living. We always have to be alert and vigilant in pursuing the work of the Lord while we are on earth. Let us make peace, confess regularly, and make everyday count all for the glory of His name.