Life is funny at times. So unpredictable, with sudden attacks which seem to come out of nowhere.
You’re walking through life, minding your own business, when all of a sudden you turn a corner and come face to face with a life altering experience.
Right around the corner, completely unexpected, something or someone hits you upside your head and knocks you for a loop.
Know what I mean?
Here’s a truth we must know and embrace; right around the corner (unseen at the present time) lurks the potential for a life changing experience.
That’s why we must live prepared for anything.
How is it possible?
Look at Jesus’ example.
“And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able. ” And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me. ” And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us. ” And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes. ” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again. ” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead. ” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer. ““ (Mark 9:14-29 ESV)
Some versions add “and fasting.”
Jesus had just been on the mountain with three of His disciples. The other nine were hanging out waiting for Him to return. I’m not sure what they were supposed to be doing, but apparently they weren’t prepared for what was right around the corner.
They had been given authority to cast out demons (Mark 6). They had experienced the power and authority they had in Jesus’ Name.
But they weren’t prepared. They failed when life appeared right before their eyes.
Which is why they asked Jesus, “Why didn’t it work this time?”
The answer Jesus gave wasn’t a formula only for casting out demons. He was sharing with them a foundational principle.
“This is how you prepare for things right around the corner.”
How?
By staying close to the Father through regular prayer, worship, reading and studying God’s Word.
Jesus didn’t ask the boy’s father to wait three days while He fasted and prayed. No, He lived prepared, ready to face any emergency, by continually staying in fellowship with His Father.
After all, His Father (and yours) knows what is lurking right around the corner.
Amen.
Jan Grace 