Let’s ‘Get While the Gettin's Good’

OK, this one is a bit of tongue-in-cheek but I couldn’t resist and my teachers reading this are going to cringe at the grammar, but I warned you. After having read Pastor Robby’s post a few weeks ago on “Is This the End of the World?’, the song “Get While the Gettin’s Good” by Bill Anderson, popped into my head. What in the world would that song have to do with the end of the world or climate change you might ask. Well, my first thought was, time is running out and we better be gettin’ on with God’s work. Then I had to go find the song and listen to it again after so many years. The first verse says “out of your life and into the light” and last line in the chorus says, “If I’m ever gonna find peace of mind, then I’ve gotta get while the gettin’s good.” Now the parts in between are not Biblical but if you listen with a Biblical view point there is some truth. This is the tongue-in-cheek part.

We, as Christians, KNOW the end is coming. We are confident in this. We are constantly seeing signs of how bad things are deteriorating, not just here in America, but in other parts of the world as well. Parts of me would like to know what is the political climate like in Fiji, or Bahamas, or Ireland, or Italy. You get my drift. Are there any places left that are absent from all of the hullaballoo we seem to be witnessing? Just curious. Running from a situation never makes it better or go away. So, why should we be getting while the gettins’ good?

The Bible tells us to be prepared in our daily life for Christ’s return. How do we prepare? Prepare as you would for any big event. Have a plan. Plan for Bible study time. Plan out your prayer time. I’m still working on this one. Plan for those opportunities that you will be presented with, when other’s need to see God in you. Plan for the times when you need to show God to an unbeliever. Plan on how you will explain the path of salvation to someone who is lost. Any plan is better than no plan, so plan. It’s ok if the plan gets changed. All good plans get an update ever so often. Write it out if needed. Matthew 24:42, 44 - 42 "So always be ready, because you don't know the day your Lord will come…44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a time you don't expect him.

Now let me say, we have no control over the future. We have no idea what tomorrow holds. Bu the plan that I am talking about is for when Jesus comes back. It may not be tomorrow or next week or next year or even 10 years from now, but we must be prepared spiritually for the tasks that God wants us to complete while we are here on earth and that is to share the Gospel with as many as we can. To do that, we must be prepared. 2Timothy 2:15 - Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

The climate change part is easy… I’ve lived in NC and SC exclusively my entire life. I can guarantee that the climate is going to change. Heck, it changes about 3 times a day in May, September, and October. Gets a bit more predictable in the other months. But, more seriously, we are commanded to be good stewards of the resources that God has given us. If we are doing that to the best of our ability then He will take care of the rest. Again, this is part of the plan, being prepared but without being anxious. There are literally over 100 verses that speak to being a good steward. I’ve only penned a few.

Titus 1:7-9 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. Do you have your plan ready?