(unmarked journal entry – presumably from matthew 24)

i still remember my trip to the boy scout museum in murray, ky all those years ago. the guide set us down and he had us respond over and over again. when he would say “be prepared!” we would all shout back “we are prepared!” that was part of who we were as scouts. we were supposed to be prepared for any task, any possibility and eventuality. an unprepared scout was obviously a poor example of what a scout should be…it was so easy to be zealous in my preparedness, making sure each detail was covered, every supply was accounted for and that it was all neatly stowed and organized.

but it doesn’t seem to be that way with the church. are we prepared? are we excited about meeting the possibilities head on? if not, why? where has our zeal gone? why don’t we care enough to be prepared?

maybe it’s just the basic difference between faith and knowledge. as a scout, you can see and lay hands on all your supplies, thus ensuring that you are indeed prepared. others can see what you’ve done. you even get badges and other rewards for being prepared. in the Christian life, our preparedness isn’t so physical and outwardly obvious. so the recognition and appeal for being praised isn’t as easy, or even supposed to happen, period.

being prepared as a Christian is a deeper issue than keeping a bag of supplies handy. being prepared is even more than just a hobby or a lifestyle. the preparation involved in our walk requires so much more and the zeal to carry it out for your whole life, not just for a camping season.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

there are a few elements of my scout training (limited though it was) that stick with me today. they are enough to be considered a point of interest, but they do not guide my life. it seems that it rests in the realm of being informational more so than being a passion. information is clean cut, and applies to very specific areas of life and action.

zeal on the other hand needs to be carefully focused, and doled out in appropriate amounts. misguided, or even unguided, zeal can do a great deal of damage. there must be a prepared/shaped/guided path for it to be effectively harnessed. this is not to say that we cannot or do not allow for the leading of the Spirit. on the contrary, we must allow the Spirit to be the One giving us that guidance and pray that God gives us the wisdom, discernment and tact to properly administer the good gifts He has blessed us with.

zeal is fantastic when it is truly God-honoring. zeal is distracting when it draws attention to the believer rather than to God. zeal can fuel the motivations for all areas of a person’s life for the whole of their life when it is directed and fed by God. zeal can also burn someone up quickly when they smolder alone.

coals on a fire burn best and longest when they are kept in proper proximity to each other. separated from the pile, a coal will quickly go out. piled in too tight of a stack, and they will burn too hot and spend themselves. instead, the fire must be passed on and shared evenly.

zeal is fantastic, but we must also take time to think and be prepared for whatever comes our way.  there is a balance to be maintained, and all at God’s leading and for His glory, and all done in love with gentleness and respect.