The Lord has told us that in the end time great things will occur. “There will be wars and rumors of wars, nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places,” Matthew 24:24:6, 7. Certainly, there will be emergencies which will affect our ability to obtain food and water.
How should we prepare for such possibilities? Our first focus should be preparing spiritually to meet the Lord. We must put our trust in Him, for He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us. He has also given us the example of the children of Israel in their wanderings. Inspiration tells us: “Many look back at them and marvel at their unbelief and continual murmurings, after the Lord had done so much for them, in giving them repeated evidences of His love and care for them. They think that they should not have proved ungrateful. But some who thus think, murmur and repine at things of less consequence….God frequently proves them, and tries their faith in small things: and they do not endure the trial any better than did ancient Israel. Self-denial is considered by some to be real suffering. Depraved appetites would lead even many professed Christians to now start back, as though actual starvation would be the consequence of a plain diet…. Bread and water is all that is promised to the remnant in the time of trouble.”
The Story of Redemption, 128, 129.
There are preparations we can make. “Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; or in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies.” Country Living, 9, 10.
Does this mean that we should be stock-pilling food to ensure that we do not suffer want in the future? “I saw that if the saints had food laid up by them or in the field in the time of trouble, when sword, famine, and pestilence are in the land, it would be taken from them by violent hands and strangers would reap their fields. Then will be the time for us to trust wholly in God, and He will sustain us. I saw that our bread and water will be sure at that time, and that we shall not lack or suffer hunger; for God is able to spread a table for us in the wilderness. If necessary He would send ravens to feed us, as He did to feed Elijah, or rain manna from heaven, as He did for the Israelites.
“Houses and lands will be of no use to the saints in the time of trouble, for they will then have to flee before infuriated mobs, and at that time their possessions cannot be disposed of to advance the cause of present truth. I was shown that it is the will of God that the saints should cut loose from every encumbrance before the time of trouble comes, and make a covenant with God through sacrifice. If they have their property on the altar and earnestly inquire of God for duty, He will teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they will be free in the time of trouble and have no clogs to weigh them down.” Early
Writings, 56.
May the Lord help us each day as we prepare for His return! The happiest of New Years to each and every one of you, from our house to yours!