Let's hope for the best and be prepared for the worst

My dad passed away last year. He was diagnosed with cancer towards the end of August, and he passed away at the end of September. He was healthy and active throughout and suddenly fell ill in July end. I was the one who took the scan report from the lab, and when I saw that it was CA, I was shocked. I knew, if God doesn’t extend his life, he is going to depart from us, as it was already 4th stage cancer, and we didn’t know it. I started to prepare mentally to face all that was to come. The remaining days at the hospital were tough. The Lord taught me many things. I began to thank God for all those memorable years with my father. Instead of feeling sad about his suffering and the limited days ahead, the Lord reminded me to thank Him for the many years I had with my father.
I started to feel good about all the good things I could do for my father when he was alive. And few things I regretted that I couldn’t do. Immediately I was reminded of this very fact that life is very short and we can’t afford to lose the very little time we have. From the time of diagnosing cancer until his departure, it was 30 days. The Lord strengthened us to face reality as a family, and dad had a very peaceful separation.
Nowadays, we are living in this time of the pandemic. Once you are diagnosed with Covid-19, you don’t even have a single day left to be with your family. You are immediately taken to the isolation ward. Your dear ones can’t also come to meet you. Who knows you will get a good funeral in case you pass away, God forbid! This is not to scare you but to let you get prepared for anything worse that can happen. The pain of being rejected and knowing that very few days are left behind are difficult to comprehend.
The whole world is getting prepared to face this reality. Nobody is prone to this virus. So what can we do to get prepared? And why should we be prepared, in the first place! Let us hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
As a Christian, we know that we have three options in front of us- Either LIFE on earth, or DEATH, or the LORD’S COMING. If it is life on earth, well and good, because we have a lot more to do. If it is death, nothing to fear, because we are going to be with the Lord as soon as we enter into eternity in Heaven. If it is the Lord’s coming, we are going to fly to the heavens to be with the Lord. Therefore, for those who are in Christ, nothing can pull you down, as you are safe in the hands of Jesus.
Jesus promised to come back to take away His people to Heaven. If you haven’t heard about it, here is the portion where Jesus says it.

Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in me. There are many rooms in my father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you. After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am. (John 14:1-3)

Even if you believe or not, this is going to happen. It will be too late to be rejected and finally come to know that it was true.
So it is always wise to be prepared.
Here is a famous parable told by Jesus about being wise in preparing to meet the Lord

Then the kingdom of Heaven shall be like ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps, but took no oil with them. But the wise took jars of oil with their lamps. While the bridegroom delayed, they all rested and slept. “But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. But the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps have gone out.’ “The wise answered, ‘No, lest there not be enough for us and you. Go rather to those who sell it, and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they went to buy some, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open the door for us.’ “But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. (Matt 25: 1-13)

Since we do not know the day or the hour, it is wise to be prepared and ready all the time. Once the door is shut, it will be too late. So let’s hope for the best and be prepared for the worst.
What are you doing to get prepared? Share your thoughts below