Packed Up & Ready to Go!

As a prepper pastor, I have found myself always in a state of readiness for ‘come what may.’  When I was living in LA, it was about earthquakes. When I was in upstate NY, it was about being snowed in for a season without power and such.  Here in the Midwest, it’s about tornados. As of late, my prepping has been more about helping the left-behinders; you know, those who miss the Rapture and are left behind to fend for themselves, and others, if they are willing.  No doubt there will be folks who will break into the homes of those who have been taken by the Lord to get their supplies and hopefully, tend to their pets.  I hear a dog is a good meal, or even a cat –  I wouldn’t know.  The world that is coming will be much more horrific than the one we live in now.  Today, the restraining power of the Holy Spirit is still in effect and will continue to restrain rampant evil until the Church is taken in the Rapture.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that… ‘the mystery of lawlessness (hidden truth, conspiracy theory) is already at work; only He (Holy Spirit) who now restrains will do so until He (The Spirit-filled Church) is taken out of the way. ⁸ And then the lawless one will be revealed…’                                                                                         – 2 Thessalonians 2:7,8a

• This most basic truth, if known by the masses, would lend itself to a pre-Rapture revival like no other; but alas, it will be more obvious to them after were gone.

I have felt a sure prompting of the Lord to up the anny on my prepper prowess by purchasing three, 35-gallon water containers, filling them with water, and storing them in my garage under cover.  I have also purchased an increased supply of canned foods to go with our other long-term emergency food and supplies, which includes guns, ammo, meds, and other items people need in a time of crisis.  I recently went through our walk-in pantry and reset everything therein, cleaning, purging, and organizing at a whole new level.  It gets me bonus points with the little lady, but in my heart, I am hearing that still small voice of the Master who reminds me that ‘it’s not for me.’  I have placed ‘Rapture packets’ in the pantry shelves and in my garage to help those distraught souls who will be ravaging through our house, looking for clues and supplies for survival.

Why this might sound like a sci-fi horror script, me thinks that with everything happening in the world right now, that the Master can return for us in the next week or two; or sooner, we’re that close.   I realize it sounds a bit rapture rushy, but I am sensing, seeing, and feeling the immanency of God’s prompting to ‘pack up’ like never before.  Usually when we pack for something, it means that we’re taking a trip somewhere.  In this case, we’re packing for the other guy who is not going on the trip.  It’s hard to live like this, but it’s what’s required if we’re going to be part of that fig tree generation.  We have to plan long, which includes packing, and look short, which also includes packing.

The financial aspect of things is also about to change as money is more Monopoly than it ever has been.  I find that keeping our expenses to a minimum is critical during this time of uncertainty and change.  While I believe in my heart that we won’t be here for the major blunt of what’s coming, I am preparing just the same because it’s the prudent thing to do in light of world conditions and my captain obvious powers.

Solomon said it this way,

“A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.” .

– Proverbs 22:3, 27:12

We are wrapping up the school year with less than 40 days of driving on the books to go.  I have been working with a local Christian school on a massive summer restoration project for the elementary wing of their campus.  Their has been much work in the prep alone and it will all begin on the same day that I park my bus for the summer.  My point being, we have a lot of work to do and I have been planning for this for several months already.  All the while I have been looking up and wondering when the sky is going to crack open and the trumpet call of God will resound.  Remember, they were ‘eating, drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage up until the day that Noah entered the ark.’  Semblance is semblance, it has a shelf-life and the clock is ticking away.  If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, now is the time; if you do, tell a friend. 

My bags are packed, for the other guy.   I am wondering how much longer it will be before we fly.  I feel that it’s close, that we’re close, and so many people are completely unaware and all about living their distracted lives.  I don’t know what else to do or say.  I challenge and encourage you my brother (or sister) to live ready, work steady, and keep the faith by sharing what you know with anyone who will listen.  We’re not appointed for God’s wrath, we’re appointed for a wedding celebration in Heaven with a lot of other people who make up the body of Christ.  Pack your bags to stay, it helps those who stay, because when the Lord descends, we will go up.

Blessings and Maranatha!

Encouragemen is a blog written by Pastor Rob Lee, recently relocated to Northern Missouri.  He lives with his wife of 33-years, near their three adult children, their spouses, and children (their grandchildren).  Pastor Rob is an Ordained Assemblies of God minister, a former Lead Pastor (25 years), police chaplain, and community advocate.  He continues to serve, consult, and disciple men of God, including those who are in the ministry.