Always be prepared

For most people, the words "be prepared" probably bring to mind the Boy Scout and Girl Scout mottos. 

When I hear "be prepared" I think of 1 Peter 3:15.

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect,"

Another "prepared" phrase is "prepare to meet your maker."  I think everyone knows what that means, but last Wednesday, for a group of women in my Bible study, the concept of preparation soared to another level.

Last week Wheaton College was on spring break, so Bible study also went on spring break.  The morning study utilizes a lot of students to staff the childcare and programs for infants and kids up to kindergarten age.  So without Kids Korner workers (hate, hate, hate the forced alliterative spelling of korner!) the morning study is unable to meet and the evening study forgoes meeting as well so that we all are able to stay on the same lesson schedule.

With a week off, the small groups are encouraged to get together for small group fellowship.  Both of my group leaders were going to be out of town, so my group did not meet, but all of the other groups did.  I'm sure they were blessed with a time of sharing and prayer, but one group experienced something that went beyond anyone's expectations.

R and P's group met at R's house.  During the course of the evening, an older woman, J, collapsed and died.

Died.  Dead.

Who could ever have anticipated that one of the group members wouldn't return to her home at the end of the evening, but instead would go home to be with the Lord?  No one in R and P's group was prepared for that scenario, but the only one who really needed to be prepared was J.

J had attended Women's Bible Study for many years.  For some reason (I don't know the details) she was estranged from her family.  But by the grace of God, year after year, she was always in a group with the same women.  As a result, her sisters in Christ were the family that loved and cared for her, who brought her to church on Wednesday evenings, who helped her navigate with her walker, and who were by her side when she passed from the joys and trials of this world into the everlasting glory of heaven.

I hope that J's years of studying God's Word prepared her to share her faith with others.  I also hope that Bible study prepared her to face disappointment and loss, while at the same time encouraging her and deepening her faith.  But most importantly, I hope that the Word of God prepared J to stand before the Father, clothed in the righteousness that comes by virtue of faith alone in Jesus Christ.