Ready

Many years ago, the mission agency I served with asked various country leaders to go through security training in the event of an emergency or accident. Living in Eastern Europe only a few years after the fall of communism, there were still concerns about an invasion to retake former socialist countries.

But the training wasn't just limited to evacuation and escape; it also included thorough and intense security training, kidnapping, and contingency planning. My first training was almost 20 years ago, and I've continued to take refresher courses to stay sharp and vigilant personally and for the organization.

Often, some of the training felt a little excessive and maybe unnecessary. In fact, my missionary buddies and I would occasionally joke and make light of certain scenarios. But deep down, even though they were long hours of instruction, we knew it was better to be ready, just in case.

Over the years, I’m certain the training has helped me to be vigilant, spotting would be pick-pockets and maybe dangerous areas, but never really anything I considered an “emergency” until… a text from one of our missionaries at 2:30 AM.

“Ron, our house was broken into, and my spouse has been kidnapped."

Those are words you never want to hear. But both the missionary and I knew the next steps we needed to take. Long before, we both established contingency plans, already in place, created years before, hoping we would never need to use them. We. . . were ready!

As followers of Christ, we often wonder if we are on the right path, if and how God would use us, and what our next steps should be. We often spend more time trying to figure this mystery out than we do getting ourselves ready for what He might have planned. In fact, I’m fairly confident, sometimes He is actually waiting on us to ready ourselves before He directs us.

Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are in Rome also. Romans 1:13-15 KJV

I love Paul's words to the Romans. Even though he has been "hindered" (jails, beatings, etc., etc.), even though he has a lot of places yet to visit, he recognizes it is God, not circumstances, that have prevented him to this point. But instead of being upset, he simply declares his desire to join them and his readiness for when God gives the go-ahead. Instead of standing by, waiting for God to make the next move, he, in the meantime, is preparing himself to be used.

Over the years, I have watched people who have dedicated their lives to know God better. They study His Word, take bible lessons and college classes, listen to podcasts, and take copious notes in sermons. They do everything they know how to do to prepare themselves in order that God might use them in some sort of vocational full-time ministry. And should He not, they are still better equipped to handle full-time service to God. They aren't waiting around for a sign from God to go; they are preparing for the day they will be sent… and they will be sent. Their preparation will not go unused. Only those waiting, unprepared, will go unused. Prepare, so that when the day comes. . . you will be ready.