Have you ever had a situation in life where you just weren't prepared for what happened? You hadn't suspected the consequences; therefore, you had nothing to fall back on when it occurred.

Just this week, I had computer hard drive problems! You can probably identify with that. And if so, you know it's always been said "Always backup your hard drive". Well, needless to say, I hadn't backed it up recently. When the problem started, I tried to back it up, but the harddrive wouldn't let me - ERRORS! That's scarey, to say the least.

I put files on my other drive, in hopes of at least saving part, and I knew I had an old backup from which I could retrieve some of the files. Well, I was NOT prepared for the outcome! Somewhere between trying to fix the old hard drive and rebuilding a new one, all my files were lost on my other drive. That was a blow! And, on top of that, most of the files I tried to retrieve from previous backups had empty directories. Another hard blow! So we had to buy a new hard drive. The problem is fixed, but I learned a lesson. You can be sure my hard drive is now backed up.

In our spiritual life, we should also be prepared. We don't have the promise of tomorrow, or even the next moment. Life is a fleeting dream - here today and gone tomorrow.

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

We need to get our lives in order, get prepared, for the day is fastly approaching when our Lord will be back for his Church. He's coming back for a church with out spot or wrinkle, one in which His people have humbled themselves before him, and stayed close to his word. He's not coming after 'do gooders', 'pew warmers', or anyone that has not set their mind like flint, stood fast in his word, and looked for that day approaching when he will come for his bride.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse [your] hands, [ye] sinners; and purify [your] hearts, [ye] double minded.

Jeremiah 32:38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: 39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them: 40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

The time is fastly approaching for the return of the KING. Will you be ready?

Do you recall the story of the ten virgins in Matthew 25 who were waiting upon the Lord? They each had lamps, but five were wise and five were foolish. When the cry was made at midnight to go out and meet him, the five wise virgins arose and lit their lamps. The five foolish virgins had no oil and asked the five wise virgins to 'share'. And they said, No, go out and buy your own. But when they returned, the bridegroom had come. They asked they Lord if they could come, but he said, "I know you not." They had not been vigilant in their watch and were 'unprepared'. Do you have your 'lamps trimmed', watching and waiting for that day and hour? Is your heart where it should be at this moment? Are you assured that you will be in that meeting with him?

Be prepared! If you aren't sure, there's one easy way. Come before GOD with a repentant heart, confess your sins, and ask him to come into your heart as Saviour of your soul, that you might one day reign with him. He'll give you a "new" heart.

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Father, help us be prepared for the day when you will send your Son to get the Church. If there's one that reads this devotional and doesn't know you, woo his/her heart that they may find peace in time of trouble, a shelter from the rain, joy unspeakable, and a blessed assurance that they will be in that number when Christ comes for the glorious Church. We give you thanks, honor, glory, praise. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.