By: John Kerr
When Brenda and I with our three children headed west, we ended up in a little town of less than one thousand people called Hudson Hope. The main reason for its existence is to serve as a hydro town for the W.A.C. Bennett dam. This imposing structure is one of the largest earth filled hydroelectric dams and it holds in check the third largest man-made lake in North America, called Williston Lake. It was built in the 1960s and is responsible for one-third of the B.C. lower mainland’s clean energy. We lived downstream from this monster!
One summer a tourist was crossing the dam and noticed something strange. He went back to the visitor centre and reported what he had seen. Of course they were skeptical; what would he know? He happened to be the engineer responsible for the dam some 30 years ago! Of course, the possibility of the dam failing hit the news. Tourists started to come to visit, and the town started to prepare for the worst.
Every Tuesday night after supper, the volunteer fire department had their practice session and tested the siren. It wailed for a couple of minutes at 6:45. As an emergency preparedness, the town was instructed to evacuate if the siren hit the highest sound and did not drop. Worst case scenario: 20 minutes to clear out of town and there was only one road.
With all this in mind, one evening we were enjoying supper when we heard the siren go off. At first no one seemed worried until the wailing did not vary from that one high pitch!
I sat there frozen, fork in hand, halfway to my mouth! Four sets of eyes were looking at me. “What night is it?” I asked all assembled. It was Wednesday. At once five chairs began to move just as the siren’s wail broke and took on its familiar call to the volunteer firemen. What a relief.
It seems that in the spiritual realm we take much for granted. We go about our daily lives without really considering them in a greater context. You might be familiar with Jesus’ parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1-13.
As the 10 virgins waited for the arrival of the bridegroom, they apparently had a job to do. But as time passed five of them got lazy and did not keep their supply of oil with them while the other five did. When the bridegroom finally arrived only five were prepared and were able to enter his presence while the other five were excluded. While we may not fully understand all the dynamics of the story in its ancient middle east context, we can understand Jesus’ intent: be ready! “Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” (Matt.25:13)
We are part of the church of Jesus Christ and together as a church family, as well as individually, we must be prepared as if the dam is going to break at any time. Yet it seems that we are more worried about:
Our wardrobe choice than our witness;
Our musicology than our message;
Pacifying than preaching.
If you think that I am being harsh, remember that I was the one who sat with the fork to his mouth, responsible for four souls and not ready.
Peter said: “always be ready to give a defense.” (1 Peter 3:15) Paul said: “I am now ready to be offered.” (2 Tim 4:6)
The world is sitting on a powder keg and often its attention is being leveled towards the church in many ways. How then can I be ready? Here is a Daily Preparedness Action Plan:
1. Live your worship. Be a doxology to God in all you do.
2. Share your witness. Learn to give your testimony. Practice your testimony in 60 seconds or less. It is a treasure you cannot keep!
3. Watch, prayerfully. In the garden while Jesus prayed the disciples slept. “Watch and pray” Jesus said.
In preparation for this Challenge, I read an internet piece that later downplayed the urgency of the situation. All I could think of was that Wednesday night and hearing that siren, knowing that I wasn’t ready for what might have been ahead for me and my family. How much more serious is the spiritual warfare in which we find ourselves today? Are you ready?
