The days we are living in feel really scary to me. If you are a news watcher, I’m sure you’ve noticed that the whole world is in chaos. There are so many problems and seemingly few solutions. And I’m not talking about small problems—I speak of earth-shattering events like thousands of people being slaughtered or displaced from their homes, the rise of unprecedented lawlessness, and the erosion of commonly held values.

But then Jesus warned us it would be like this. Isn’t our Lord wonderful to always tell His children ahead of time what to expect. I think of the time the Lord came to bring judgment to Sodom and Gomorrah, and He said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” We know He didn’t hide it from Abraham, and even allowed Abraham to intercede for his nephew, Lot.

It is the same today. Over 2000 years ago Jesus explained what to expect in the last days. Read Matthew 24 and Luke 21. He said there would be “Men’s hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth….” (Luke 21:26) If you haven’t read those chapters lately, you must do so. But one thing you must not do is be among those who hearts fail them for fear (terror). You ask, “But how?”

Preparedness can mean the difference between hearts failing and not failing. In 2010, I began to seek the Lord about how to prepare for the difficult times coming to America. You see, when the Y2K event came along, my family was fully prepared to handle most anything. We had stored up food, water, fuel, and everything imaginable to get through months or perhaps years of hard times, if necessary.

However, when the year 2000 arrived, nothing happened. The underlying problem was that computers were not capable of processing dates beyond December 31, 1999. Yet, because utility companies, airlines, governments, states, and local entities PREPARED in advance, no computers failed. I know this for a fact because I worked for an electric utility company at the time. The Y2K Task Force had fixed the problem long before the morning of January 1, 2000 dawned. It wasn’t that the possibility of disaster wasn’t real, because it was; but proactive people did what was necessary to head off any breakdowns in our electronic systems. Thankfully, we didn’t need our extra supplies. However, nothing went to waste as it was given away or used up during the next year.

I would like to propose to you, as believers in God who know that perilous times are ahead, to be proactive and prepare yourself!

While seeking the Lord in 2010, the Holy Spirit spoke this to me: “The best way you can prepare is to prepare spiritually.” I have done that with every fiber of my being, and I am fully confident that as for me and my house we are spiritually ready. However, we are also storing up a few extra quantities of water and food sources, although nothing compared to what we did in 1999. I simply do not want to be unprepared such that my heart might fail because of fear. Preparedness can save us from panic.

My newly penned definition for peace is: Peace is not the absence of trouble, but the calm assurance that in the end we win. I trust that you will prepare yourselves for the really scary days ahead so you can face them with calm assurance. First and most importantly, find peace with God, and then trust Him to take care of His own. He may or may not lead to you do anything more; but if He does, do it.

I love the words to Chris Tomlin’s song “I Will Rise,” because they define so well the destiny of the Redeemed:

There’s a peace I’ve come to know

Though my heart and flesh may fail

There’s an anchor for my soul

I can say “It is well.”

 

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead.

 

There’s a day that’s drawing near

When this darkness breaks to light

And the shadows disappear

And my faith shall be my eyes.

 

Jesus has overcome

And the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won

He is risen from the dead.

 

And I will rise when He calls my name

No more sorrow, no more pain

I will rise on eagles’ wings

Before my God fall on my knees

And rise, I will rise. ~Chris Tomlin

 

There are no more comforting words that I can give to you than what Jesus gave to His followers in Luke 21:28 ~ “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”

It seems to me that these really scary days could actually be the last days. If I’m right, it’s time to look up! ~ Janie Kellogg

Key Scripture: “So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” Luke 21:28 (NLT)