It’s the Season

The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.  Romans 13:11

Props: “Hurricane kit” (radio, batteries, water, first aid kit, blankets, canned food, etc.)

(Hold up the props as you talk about them). 

            It’s that time of year again!  Hurricane season is here.  I hope all of you are preparing at home, just in case we have another hurricane. 

            For years, there were no bad hurricanes in our part of the state.  In fact, none of you were even alive the last time a bad hurricane hit us (before Charley).  I wasn’t even alive when the last bad storm hit our part of the state. 

            Every year I would watch the news and they would tell us we needed to be prepared.  Every year I thought about it.  But after a long time, I didn’t take it seriously.  I didn’t get any supplies together because I didn’t think a storm would ever come.  Then on August 13, 2004 I was taken by surprise.  The weather forecasters said a Hurricane was headed in this direction, but it probably wouldn’t hit us.  Our family put a few supplies together.  Then they said it might hit us.  We started to take it more seriously.  By the time the storm arrived, it was too late.  We didn’t have a battery operated radio.  We lost power, so we didn’t know what was happening.  We had some water, but it got buried in the debris as our ceiling collapsed.  We had food, but it was in the fridge and everything in the fridge got ruined.  We sure learned our lesson!  Thankfully we were kept safe and didn’t get hurt, because we didn’t even have a first aid kit! 

            Now we know better.  Every year before hurricane season, we gather all our supplies and keep them in a safe place.  We find the safest place in our house ahead of time and know to go there in an emergency.  We form our plan of action in advance.    We don’t ever want to be taken by surprise again.  And really, there’s no excuse for being caught off-guard.  We know it’s hurricane season; we should be ready.

            The Bible says that no one but the Father knows the exact time when Jesus will return.  However, we do know that it’s getting close because He told us there were things we could watch for.  He told us to be prepared.  Most people don’t take the warning seriously because it’s been years since Jesus promised He would return.  All of the disciples died and Jesus still had not returned.  Centuries passed…no return.  Now it’s been thousands of years.  We’re still waiting.  But does that mean we give up and stop taking Him seriously?  No way!  We still wait; we still prepare.  We stay ready.  Jesus WILL return. 

            Will you be ready?  After He comes, it will be too late to prepare.  There won’t be any time left.  The only way to be sure is to stay ready, stay prepared.  Don’t let yourself fall asleep in your spirit.  Wake up and be prepared for Jesus’ coming!