Preparation

During December 2022, my husband and I had the privilege to go and visit our daughter and her family in New Zealand and to finally meet our youngest grandbaby, Arielle, who was born in November 2021. As you can imagine, there was great excitement as we started preparing for our journey from South Africa to Auckland.

We booked our flights, applied for visas, and made sure all our documentation for the journey and for entering New Zealand was ready and in order. Finally, the time came when we needed to start packing everything we planned to take along, taking into consideration the weight and space allowed for the baggage according to airline regulations. Besides clothes and necessities, there were gifts and special treats from home that I knew my daughter would love, all needing to fit into only two suitcases!

As I was busy with the packing process, I thought about all the preparation that went into this journey to New Zealand and I sensed the Lord speaking to my heart. If this much careful preparation was made for an earthly journey that would last three weeks, how much more care should be taken in my walk with the Lord here on earth as I live my life in a manner that serves as preparation for eternity – a journey that would ultimately end when I see Jesus, face to face.

When we are born again, our journey of salvation begins and we grow and learn and serve the Lord, encouraged by the Word to daily keep walking in step with His Spirit. We are encouraged not to carry any excess weights and sins that could hamper us. `Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us` (Hebrews 12:1).

Hebrews 12:2 continues to instruct us to `Look(ing) away from all that will distract to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith…and is also its Finisher`. Jesus is our `travel agent, ` making sure that we stay on course with every part of our earthly preparation. He needs to be consulted and obeyed every step of the way. This earthly journey, much like our New Zealand holiday, needs to be one of faithful, joyful preparation. It does not begin and end when we get our `ticket` of salvation. On the contrary! Our journey is one of purpose, and not only that, but it is also meant to be one of `life in abundance` (see John 10:10).

The thing that gets me really excited is the fact that, while I am in a preparation period here on earth for eternal life with my Saviour in Heaven, Jesus is also busy preparing a place for me! He said in John 14:2-3, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” We cannot even begin to imagine what God has prepared for us.

Let us take care with our daily walk here on earth. Let’s make sure we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, not allowing ourselves to be weighed down by the things of the world and the distractions which could derail us. Let’s live our lives in a manner that would draw others along with us on our journey to everlasting life. Jesus is preparing a place for you and me, and He is coming soon to fetch us to Himself.