Because our dog only chooses to need veterinary attention on Wednesdays, yesterday was a hectic day. He started getting sick around 2PM and by 3:15 we decided it was probably time to take him to his first vet visit in Charleston. The problem is, it’s Wednesday. And this isn’t a small town with no traffic. By 3:45 we were there, and by 5 we still hadn’t been seen. Knowing Bible study was more important than our dog (who seemed fine anyway), we decided to leave at 5:15 without being seen and head home so I could get ready (puppy’s sickness had interrupted shower time earlier so get ready time was crucial) and so Robert could eat before getting up to teach (an amazing!!) class.

Thanks to ridiculous traffic (more on that another day), we didn’t get home until 5:38. Needing to be in the shower by 6 and to have already eaten, that didn’t leave much time for dinner preparation/consumption. Thankfully, I had put some teriyaki chicken in the crockpot after lunch, and our warm dinner was all ready for us when we got here.

That got me thinking:

What if I hadn’t been prepared? What if I had completely slacked off on dinner this afternoon, putting it off until later because “I’ll have time,” not knowing the Wonderpup had different plans? We know what would have happened – we would have starved. Ok, not starved, but I would have had a story for Wifey Wednesdays in failed wifery. I would have kept my husband from getting the nourishment and strength he needed to teach Bible class.

But I was prepared. Even though I thought I’d have more time, I still prepared. And that saved me when it came to the unforeseen events of the afternoon.

Obviously you see the spiritual application. Why don’t more of us implement crockpot faithfulness into our lives, instead of putting off getting right because we’ll “have time later.” So many people – far too many people – live their lives in a state of unfaithfulness, away from God, because they “know” they’ll have time to straighten up later. After the impure relationship has ended. After the kids are grown. After that TV series has ended. Before they get sick. Before they get into an accident.

I love how Peter said it in 2 Peter 3:10-12,

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

Notice how he said therefore. Because the day of the Lord will come in an instant that no one knows, what kind of person should you be all the time? Not just sometimes. Not in your perfect world where you’ll have all the time you want and need. No, how should you be living right now? If you knew Jesus was coming tomorrow, what would you do today to fix your life?

That’s crockpot faithfulness. Living in a state of preparedness. Because you know what, even if we hadn’t had an unexpected vet trip that took up the entire afternoon, I still would have had dinner ready on time. And, when unforeseen circumstances arose, it didn’t shake me. I had been ready and I remained ready. I pray that the same can be said of my spiritual life – that I am living in a state of righteousness for my Lord, ready and anxious for His return. And regardless of when that is, tomorrow or twenty years from now, I will be ready because I’m preparing today for my heavenly home.