Planning a trip? Make preparations. Preparing for the arrival of a loved one or a new baby? Make preparations. Getting ready to move? Make preparations. When planned events happen in our lives, we make preparations. We make lists, do research, plan an itinerary. We don’t sit idly by or we won’t be ready.
This week is Holy Week. Those of you celebrating Lent look forward to the end of your 40 day fast. Others enjoy the church services this week focused on Jesus and His final week. No matter the day. No matter the season. No matter the upcoming holiday. As Christians, are we making preparations? For the coming of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Is our eternal destination secured? Have we unpacked and laid our burdens and sins at the cross? Galatians 5:24 “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Have we followed the itinerary already ordained by God through Jesus as the only way? John 14:6 “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Have we done our research by reading scripture, seeing that we don’t have to “do” anything? Jesus has done it all! Ephesians 2:8-9: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
We spend a lifetime making preparations. What about in the life to come? I pray that we all examine our hearts, 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” looking to Jesus as the “author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) and decide today to follow Him.