Plan For What's Coming

On a recent visit to the store I noticed that Christmas decorations are now on display for purchase.  We are still weeks away from Halloween, yet retailers are already promoting Christmas.  Many will say, “It’s too early.  Can we get through October before they bring out the Christmas stuff?”  However, we can takes notes from the retail industry.  Now is the time to plan for what’s coming. 

So often we deal with things when they come instead of planning ahead for what’s coming.  Our procrastination stresses not only ourselves, but those around us who are depending on us to get things done.  There are certain things that we know we are going to have to face unless Jesus returns or calls us into His rest first.  Tax day is going to come every April.  Emergencies are going to arise.  Aging and death inevitable.  Planning does not cause an emergency, sickness or death.  It prepares you and your family for them.   

​Planning is a very biblical concept.  God, in whose image we are created, planned for our salvation before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:20).  He did not wait until man sinned before He developed a plan to reverse the effects of sin.  God can speak of the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).  Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us so that we can live with Him.  God is purposeful in His actions and has planned for our future. 
In Proverbs 6:6-11, the wise man implores us to learn some lessons from the ant.  While it is summertime, the ant is thinking of how to survive the winter.  Are you prepared for winter?  Don’t wait until you are 60 to prepare for retirement.  Don’t wait until you have a financial crisis to think about saving money.  Plan for your future before it arrives. 
What can you do now to plan for the next three months?