Preppers
By Elin Henderson
“ ‘The time has come,’ he said. ‘The
kingdom of God is near.
Repent and believe the good news!’ ”
…
Mark 1:15 (NIV)
Have you
seen the show Preppers? It
follows people who are preparing for a variety of doomsdays. Some have huge
shelters built underground in which they store up food, water and supplies for
months. Others are training themselves and their families in self-defense,
while stocking up with enough guns and ammunition to fight off half an army!
Jesus
calls us to be preppers, as well: preppers for His Kingdom. He calls us to
store up treasures not on this earth, but to store up treasures for the Kingdom
that is to come. He calls us to train ourselves to fight the good fight, but
not for the kingdoms of this world, rather for His Kingdom!
This
prepper mentality is not one born out of paranoia or conspiracy theories, but
out of a sense that this world is not our home. It requires a GOD-focus not a
SELF-focus. It’s risky business to be a Kingdom Prepper. The costs are high and
the stakes are crazy from a human perspective. “Lose your life to
gain it” (Luke 17:33). “Be last to be first” (Mark
9:35). “Be low and let Him lift you up” (James 4:10). These
aren’t the slogans of self-preservationists.
So…are
you ready to join the ranks and be named with the crazy Kingdom Preppers of
this age?!
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
What are some ways that you can be part of this Kingdom Preppers
movement?
2.
How can you help others around you catch the vision, as well?
FURTHER
READING:
Oakwood’s missionaries Elin
Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters
with Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.
Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.
