Changi Chapel

As I watched the world news coverage about the Japanese earthquake, I heard survivors describe the events as happening ‘all of the sudden’, ‘suddenly’, or ‘out of the blue’. Most were completely caught off guard. After all, on a bright sunny day in a tropical climate, who expects the world to suddenly turn upside down? But this is exactly what happened.

The "suddenlies" appear in each of our lives. Sudden car accidents, sudden disasters, sudden tragedies, sudden homelessness, sudden unemployment, sudden illness, sudden crisis. In that moment – within that split second – we do not have time to stop and plan our strategy.

My pastor read the parable of the 5 wise virgins, who kept their lamps full of oil and trimmed so they could be used at a moment’s notice. They didn’t assume they could use the lamp of another virgin. They didn’t expect others to be responsible for what was their own task which was to be on guard, to be on watch and to have the provisions needed so they could rise up and greet the bridegroom.

The oil in the lamp represents the Word of God. How well do you really know the Word? When running from an enemy or when racing for your life, you don’t have time to put in a Charles Stanley tape or grab a Francis Frangipane newsletter. You can only take what you have already learned before the ‘suddenly’ appeared.

Is your Spirit full of the fuel that the Bible and times of fellowship with the Lord provides us? Is your heart clean before the Lord? Do you keep wick of your lamp trimmed? Are there areas of your life that you have felt the Lord’s tug of conviction but you have not yet addressed? Do you make it a practice to instantly obey the Lord’s directives for your life or do you delay obedience ‘for another day’?

When the "suddenlies" hit, you’ll have no time to deal with any hidden addictions, the unforgiveness you hold in your heart toward another or other unresolved conflicts.
Martin Luther talked of daily repentance. He suggested that we keep short accounts with God. In other words, daily allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart for sin and be willing to forgive others quickly.

A quote I read once said something like this. "Start each day as if it is your last."

Will you?

Kathryn Walden*
Missionary Journalist

© Kathryn Walden
* Kathryn Walden is a wheel-chair bound missionary journalist who served for several years with YWAM. She currently serves people around the world compiling daily quotes, devotionals and other inspirational articles. Like Joni Erickson Tada, Kathryn is a wonderful example of joyfully serving the Lord despite her severe physical handicap and acute financial limitations