I agree completely with this article - not surprising; as my readers know, Ron Graham comes closer to thinking as I do than anyone I've ever run across. CMR
Preparedness
11/08/2012
by Ron Graham
“The
ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the
summer;” Proverbs 30:25. I’ve received a few
inquiries in recent months as to whether Christians should store up food and
supplies and buy gold and silver all in anticipation of what they see coming on
the horizon. The answer is yes and no. If you see a benefit in storing up for
the winter as the ants do, then
by all means do so. Catastrophic storms, such as just occurred along the east
coast of the US, would be cause for preparedness. Weather anomalies happen quite
frequently these days and in such cases a safety net of a full pantry, in case
stores run out of goods, doesn’t mean we’re being unfaithful, but practical. If
you have a savings account on hand, just in case of an emergency, that too can
be a good thing. But attempting to store up in anticipation of what the Bible
clearly states will occur in the last days prior to Christ’s return is
folly.
Here’s an
example of being prepared for common disruptions. The pump in our water well
went out recently and we had to have it replaced. We had no water until the new
pump was installed. We went to the store and purchased as much water as we could
get in our car. The pump was installed the next day and we ended up using very
little of the water we purchased. God provided the funds to purchase the new
pump and the well drilling company was very efficient and timely. We hardly felt
the effects of no water. We had relied on God to provide the funds as we abide
in Him, and He did. “If ye abide in me, and
my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you.” John 15:7. God
made a promise to the faithful that He would provide for our needs. God never
breaks His promises. “But my God shall
supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ
Jesus.” Philippians
4:19.
How about
storing up for what God tells us is coming in the last days, and which the signs
of the times point to as imminent? We cannot store enough of anything to last
through what’s coming. The big question is why would we even attempt such
foolishness? I received an email from a person in South Korea asking about
storing up supplies of food as well as other commodities. My answer to this
person was that storing up supplies in an attempt to stave off the rising cost
of those things would certainly be a benefit, short term yes, but still a
benefit. But being prepared for what the Bible tells us is coming in the last
days is something else altogether. It’s never a bad idea to have extra supplies
food, water, even medical supplies on hand in case there’s an emergency. When we
lose power here at the Graham residence we have a generator to produce enough
power to run our refrigerator and a few other essentials. But when the last days
arrive, gas to run generators will be nonexistent. In a very small way, what we
see occurring in some communities on the east coast of the US is an example of
what life on earth will be like without power, or fuel for generators, or food
and water.
Storing up
commodities to stave off the approaching catastrophic end times may seem
beneficial to many people, but nothing will suffice; all commodities will run
out long before those times reach their zenith. Nothing can be done for those in
that situation. Oh sure, governments may build huge underground bunkers with
enough stored food and other supplies to support a few privileged people for an
extended period of time, but average citizens don’t have the resources of those
governments. Even if we did the terrible times that are coming will not exclude
anyone who remains here during the Great Tribulation. No one will be able to
hide from God in a bunker.
What God tells
us in His word is coming will affect everyone on earth; it will not be
partitioned off by the haves and the have not’s. The suffering will be worldwide
and no matter what you think you can do to prepare yourself there is only one
sure and effective way to be prepared for what’s coming, and it doesn’t include
storing food, water, or munitions.
Jesus gave us a
heads up of what’s to be expected during the last days of planet earth. He did
so not merely to afford an answer to His disciples who were pressing Him for
details concerning the last days and His return, but to enlighten everyone who
would hear and heed His words. There’s a decision to be made, and many have
already made it to their own detriment.
“For
God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a
sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7. We have no cause to fear
what’s coming. We have not been given the spirit of fear, but we have been given
power and a sound mind. Storing up years worth of supplies for what the Bible
plainly explains is coming shows a lack of faith in the One who has told us over
and over again to fear not. Why would God tell us to fear not and then place us
in the precarious position where fear becomes overwhelming? The only people who
should be fearful are those who have abandoned God, they are those who will
remain on earth, after the followers of Jesus Christ have been removed, and they
will be forced to endure or perish.
My wife, daughter, and I have a
pantry. We try to keep it well stocked. We do this because it is costly to run
into town to buy groceries every day or so. It’s an eighteen mile trip into town
and back to our home. There are good reasons to have a few extra items on hand,
and each time we go to town we buy extra so the need to return to the store is
not so pressing. This concept is just common sense (a sound
mind).
Preparing for
the inevitable is not difficult. Your Bible tells you what’s coming in the last
days and clearly the prelude to those days has arrived. It doesn’t take a rocket
scientist to evaluate and discern the times. Humanity has been given all the
information it needs to avoid a most horrible end. Spiritual preparations should
be underway as the Gospel of peace is being preached around this world. The
Ekklesia of Christ is given the task to spread the Gospel, not to store food and
other commodities in preparation for the last days here on earth. Knowing Jesus
Christ is the only preparedness anyone need undertake.
“And
ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends;
and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.” Luke 21:16. People will turn on one
another, and that includes family members. There will be full disruptions in all
the norms of the day. There are indescribably horrible times coming upon the
earth. “Men’s hearts failing them for fear,
and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers
of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke
21:26. Everything we currently take for granted will cease to be
available. Normal flows of commodities, what it takes to live from day to day,
will be nonexistent. All the current amenities that so many people enjoy and
have grown accustomed to, even dependent upon, will no longer be available.
There will be famine in every land (divers places). This will drive the average
Joe to commit the most heinous of crimes against his brother. The sickness that
will ensue will not be tolerable; many will perish in extreme agony.
So, you’ve made
up your mind to accumulate a year or two worth of supplies in order to stave off
the coming cataclysmic end times. Well, it just so happens that you are going to
need another 4 or 5 years worth of supplies once your current supply is gone.
Where on earth are you going to go to make your purchase of those supplies?
There will be nothing to buy and you haven’t even reached the beginning point of
the real bad times. “And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts
say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny;
and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.”
Revelation 6:6. What this verse is saying
in today’s vernacular is in those days a scrap of bread will buy a bag of gold.
All that gold and silver you’re currently hoarding will be useless. Who is going
to sell you a piece of bread for a bag of gold when they themselves are
perishing due to their own hunger?
The children of
God have no need to seek solace in what they can store up in anticipation of the
end catastrophic times. We won’t be here. “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I
also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Revelation 3:10. God has promised to
extract His Children from off the face of the earth prior to those final seven
years. While the Christ rejecters try and fend for themselves in a world gone
completely into disarray and decay, the rest of us will be enjoying the promises
of God – in Heaven.
“Let
not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in
me.” John 14:1. Our preparedness began in our
hearts when we said yes to Jesus Christ. That profession of faith is our hope.
At the point when we first believed we became Christ’s property. “Looking for that
blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus
2:13-14. Christ’s peculiar people are His
possession.
“And
to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which
delivered us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:10. Christ’s Ekklesia has
nothing to fear from the coming wrath. We will be spared from His wrath which
will be poured out on the children of disobedience during the Great Tribulation.
The Christ rejecters have much to fear. “For
which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience:” Colossians
3:6.
All the extreme
measures of preparedness that I read about on blogs and some news sites everyday
will do nothing to stave off the approaching last days doom and gloom. For those
who’ve chosen to reject Christ it’s their lot to bear.
For those of you
who don’t know Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, this last paragraph is intended
for you. Jesus Christ is the answer to being prepared. He alone will provide you
with the peace you so desire. Tap into His promises and forget the foolishness
of the self-preparedness crowd. Become the property of Jesus Christ by saying
yes to Him, and you will have accepted His free gift of salvation. When you do
this simple thing, everlasting life is yours. Then watch out, because in that
moment you will be changed into a child of God. Everything will be different
after that. Instead of storing up treasures on earth you’ll be passing out your
earthly surplus to the needy as you store up treasures for yourself in
Heaven.
God bless you
all,
Ron
Graham
All
original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed
I’m
greatly encouraged by all the response to my prayer request. Please continue
your prayers for my health. Besides the Myasthenia Gravis, and the prostate
cancer, I’ve now been diagnosed with diabetes.
I’m
very grateful to those of you who have been led by God to send gifts of support.
God, the giver of all good gifts; He is great and greatly to be praised. If God
is leading you to send a gift, please send it to Ron Graham – 96 County Road
5480, Salem, MO, 65560. Thank you my brethren, God bless you
all.
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