A DANGEROUS GAMBLE

            Some time ago I received an email stressing that every family needed to have an emergency plan.  The plan should include choosing a specific place to meet in case of an emergency, such as a terrorist attack, earthquake, destructive weather, etc.  If the utility lines were disabled, there would be no way to contact family members after the fact, so the decision needs to be made ahead of time.  As we know, circumstances can change in the blink of an eye. 

I thought it was a great idea, but must say we have not implemented it as of yet.  My intentions are to talk to my family about it and simply decide on a place, but I haven’t followed through. “Why?” you might ask.  I guess we are too busy, and when we are together I don’t think about it.  We are talking about other things.  And we don’t need it right now, so it’s not the most prevalent thought in my mind…But we did feel the rumble of an earthquake in our city a few days ago, and a hurricane just missed our coast yesterday.

I hope the time doesn’t come before we make the plans.  Procrastination is a dangerous gamble. 

As important as that decision is, there is one that’s much more urgent.  We need to make sure everyone in our family is prepared to meet in Heaven one day.  Once one of us is gone, we have lost part of the connection.  It can happen in the blink of an eye, then it’s too late.  This, too, is a simple decision to make...just make sure everyone knows the way to get there.

Here are the directions.  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I know that scripture is probably very familiar to you, but let me emphasize two points.  It says ‘whosoever’.  That means you, me and everyone else who turns to Jesus.  The other thing I would like to point out is the word ‘believe’.  Anyone who believes will be saved, but what does it mean to believe?  It simply means that you are so persuaded of Who Jesus is that you put your full confidence in Him.  You trust Him with your life and rely on Him from that point on.  You leave behind the old life and start a brand new one in a new, spiritual dimension.

It’s that simple. I know it seems now like you may never need that plan, but the time comes to every one of us.  I realize we are all busy and have other things on our minds, but this needs to be taken care of above all else. If we have not already prepared for our family to meet in Heaven, we cannot afford to put it off. 

I hope the time doesn’t come before we make the plans.  Procrastination is a dangerous gamble.

THE VOICE IN THE VOTING BOOTH

I remember the day I voted in my first national election.  My parents and I had talked about the candidates and chose the ones we thought were best for our country.  I had everything settled in my mind and knew just how to vote for each office.  But when I got to the voting booth, things suddenly looked different, and I was confused.  Everything seemed clear before; now it all seemed a little sketchy.

That’s when I heard the voice.  It said, “Well, you know who you want for President…”  Then the voice walked me through the voting process.  I know what you’re thinking.  But, no, the voice wasn’t God; it was my Daddy.  He was in the booth beside me and somehow knew I needed help.  I have laughed so many times about “the voice” in the voting booth. 

That experience reminds me of the scripture in Isaiah 30:21:  “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”  Now that is the voice of God.  He wants to eliminate our confusion and steer us in the right direction.  We don’t have to beg Him to do it.  He wants to do it.  But we do have to open our hearts and our ears to hear His voice.

When Jesus told His disciples He would be going away, I imagine they were in a state of confusion and panic. After all, how could they carry on His ministry without Him.  Everything revolved completely around Jesus.  When He was taken out of the picture, there was nothing left…was there?  It didn’t make any sense to their natural minds. 

Jesus explained that He would send another Comforter.  A comforter is one who comes alongside.  He is not at a distance, but right there, just like Jesus was.  Jesus promised this Comforter, His Holy Spirit, would be with them and in them to abide forever.  They would not be alone when Jesus was no longer with them in the flesh.  They would be able to hear His voice in their spirit and know which way to go.

We have the same promise.  He is the voice that tells us “this is the way”.  He is the power we need to enable us to obey.  He is the One Who will bring to our remembrance all that Jesus has taught us.  Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit.  Listen when you are at a crossroad, when you feel all alone, when you face difficult circumstances, when everything seems to fall into place…and even in the voting booth.  Listen in the morning, midday and night.  He will tell you clearly, “This is the way, walk ye in it.”

I was so thankful for the voice in the voting booth.  I am even more thankful for the voice of the Spirit who lovingly instructs me where to place my next step!