Luke 17:26-27

 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

     We are all familiar with this passage from the Bible, and while I think it specifically refers to Genesis 6:4, I also think it has significance for the disaster scenarios we have seen in Acapulco and Colorado.  

     I have heard so many Christians say that they feel it is unbiblical to prepare for future disasters because that would be showing a lack of faith in God to be your provider.  But it is my belief that God expects us to prepare both physically and spiritually.  He gave us a brain, right?  He expects us to use it!

     And I'm pretty sure that there were many Christians among both the storm-ravaged people of Acapulco, Mexico and the flood-devestated folks of Colorado.  As of yet, I haven't heard any miraculous stories of food, water and shelter supernaturally appearing to Believers, while the Unsaved suffer the aftermath.  In fact, those who will weather these storms are those who had the foresight to stock up a little extra bottled water, food, and ways to stay warm and dry. 

     I believe Noah would have been characterized as a "prepper" in his day.  He listened to God (and his gut instincts) and prepared for those rainy days.  He had the advantage of hearing from God himself, but I'm sure if any of his neighbors had asked, he would have shared his preparatory measures and plans.  But instead, they continued as if nothing could ever disrupt their normal lives.  And they continued until the very day he entered the ark.  By that time, I might have been thinking he knew something I didn't, and start considering my own plans.  He was an example of being physically prepared when everything around you tells you disaster is coming.

     And the very next verses in this passage tell us that  his nephew, Lot, faced the same thing; only in a spiritual sense.  Those in his immediate community continued living their corrupt, sinful lives as if nothing could ever change their everyday existence.  But Lot was prepared spiritually to deal with what God had in mind.  He listened and responded.

     Those that will survive and manage to navigate the disasters in Acapulco and Colorado are those people who have given some thought on how to cope when normal life is disrupted; when all societal conveniences (grocery stores, electricity, clean water, and sustainable shelter) are gone.  They will not only have the faith that God is with them in the midst of the situation, but the mindset to carry on, the supplies, and the know-how.

     Today's Scripture is a reminder to live your life in trust and faith in the Lord, but also with an eye on how to exist in this fallen world.  To think that God will simply pluck you out of harm's way and supply your every need is not only naive, but counter to everything the Bible tells us.