How to stock up for the end of the world
I’ve heard sermons about stowing away large amounts of cash, food, batteries, water, etc. Anyone remember the fears of Y2K?? Anyone remember the fears of soviets and people hunkering down in cellars. Blast from the Past, anyone? Anyone noticing the theme of fear in that short list?
Anyone remember that parable Jesus taught of the man who tore down his barns to build bigger ones to store his ample goods and grain to last him many years, so he could relax and eat and drink and be merry? “And then God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12)
Okay, you say. But there are still times for storing up in the Bible. Sure.
Think of the widow who was in debt and the creditor had come to take her sons as slaves. She went to Elisha who instructed her to go get as many pots as she could from her neighbors. Then she was to go in and shut the door behind her with her sons. She took the small bottle of oil she owned and began to pour and pour and God filled all the empty jugs with oil. Then she was to go and sell the oil and pay off her debts. (2 Kings 4)
Think of when God told Joseph to tell the Egyptians to store up the grain during their seasons of plenty so they had enough to get through famine later and even enough to sell it to and sustain nearby nations. (Genesis 41:25-36)
Think of the Israelites storing up enough manna to get them through the Sabbath day too but no more or it would spoil.
See how there is an amount of faith required to do the multiplication in these cases of storing up?
When it comes to end times, I think of the parable of the ten virgins. The wise virgins stored up oil to go to meet the bridegroom. The foolish ones did not. (Matthew 25:1-13)
Does that mean literally stock ourselves up on olive oil and flour and canned goods? Umm, no. Don’t think so. It’s a parable.
Oil usually symbolizes the Holy Spirit. So drink up!
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:13) Drink the Spirit in!
So, you want to know how to stock up to get through the times ahead?
Simple. Stock up on prayer and the Word.
-Pray. And pray for yourselves and loved ones the way Jesus prayed for Peter… Specifically that your faith will not fail.
-Know the Word. Really know it. Hide the Word in your heart where it cannot be stolen. Treasure it. Write it on the walls. Teach it to your children. Tape it to your microwaves and dashboards. Treasure the Word.
-Drink in the Spirit. Guzzle. Guzzle. Guzzle.
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Side-note/mini-breakdown/missing-you:
Here’s where I’m at post-baby and post-move… I’m hungry and I’m lonely. And the writer in me is kind of freaking out for posting what is essentially an unedited draft. (You know, that whole perfectionism issue.) I’m throwing a lot out there on this one, friends, hoping it to be a more of a conversation starter. I know there’s a lot of holes and jumps in the thoughts on this post. But I just put it out there and I’m hoping to hear your thoughts and maybe help me fill the gaps.
What comes to mind as you are reading through this about storing up? I know each of you, so I know it’s something good! I’m craving a conversation about this. I so miss you and our conversations of the Lord together. I so wish we could let the kids play in the backyard and hash this one out and tell you how I don’t want to be afraid.
I just feel so hungry for the Word and lonesome for time with Him and His people. I so desperately need more of the Word in my mind. I feel the urgency to memorize Scripture, to dig in again. I also feel like, it’s been a long while, so where do I start? I suppose hungry and lonely are very good places to be when it comes to God. He loves to fill me up and keep me company. And I miss Him. And I miss you.
Side-note/mini-breakdown aside… Look up at the moon tonight. I hear it’s the 4th blood moon this year, all of which have fallen on Jewish holidays to include Passover. And it’s a supermoon. Just saying.
Love, d