Matthew 24:36-37 — But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

I suppose most of you will know that it’s Hurricane Season here in Florida. It begins on June 1st, and runs through November 30th.
The impact, from year to year, and even from storm to storm, is not predictable. It can, of course, be devastating. It’s reckoned that the most terrible hurricane to strike the United States hit Galveston, Texas in 1900. Although estimates vary it seems that at least 8,000 people were killed by this hurricane,and the East, West and South sides of the city were destroyed as far as  five blocks inland by a storm surge up to 15 feet high. An estimated 3,500 homes and buildings were destroyed.
Every year we Floridians get regular reminders to update our hurricane plans and provisions. Most people are sensible enough to do the necessary things.
Terrible though they are, hurricanes are somewhat predictable. Nowadays there’s usually several days warning. Other natural disasters, of course, are not so predictable and can bring devastating destruction. The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004 struck without warning and killed 230,000 people!
These natural disasters are terrible, but there is another storm coming — one that will sweep away the world. Are you ready for it? It’s discussed in different places in the Bible but here, in the twenty-fourth chapter of his Gospel, Matthew tells of Jesus’s telling of the future to come. It’s actually quite a complicated telling, pulling together multiple “end times” events. At the heart of the story is “the day of The Lord”. William Barclay quotes a fearsome description if this terrible time:

The sun and moon will be darkened, swords appear in heaven, trains of horses and foot march through the clouds. Everything in nature falls into commotion and confusion. The sun appears by night, the moon by day. Blood trickles from wood, the stone gives forth a voice, and salt is found in fresh water. Places that have been sown will appear as unsown, full barns be found empty, and the springs of wells be stopped. Among men all restraints of order will be dissolved, sin and ungodliness rule upon earth. And men will fight against each other as if stricken with madness, the friend against the friend, the son against the father, the daughter against the mother. Nation will rise against nation, and to war shall be added earthquake, fire and famine, whereby men shall be carried off.’

So how about it? Are you ready? How are your preparations? I can tell you! You’re not really ready, and
any “preparations” are pointless.
About being ready: Jesus says that we can tell that the day of The Lord is approaching but “of that day and hour knoweth no man”.
About preparations: Jesus says “then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.” (Matthew 24:16-18 KJVA). To me that adds up to “if you’re still here, don’t bother with preparation, there’s just no point”.
Now I’m trusting that most people reading these pieces are born again Christians — but it wouldn’t feel right if now and again I didn’t reach out just in case …
If, somehow, you haven’t admitted your sinful nature, believed that Jesus is the Son of God and confessed that He is your only rightful Lord then, please, do it now. It’s the only meaningful preparation you can make — and all you need.
So, really, how are your preparations?