From Kevin Funk…

Living in Illinois can be seriously challenging to those who venture outside during the winter months. Especially this winter. I know there have been countless times that I have been outside and my ears or hands have felt like they were on the brink of frostbite while I was shoveling snow or just getting to the car from the house. Just today I was at my Mom’s house in the country and my sister took the entrance to the driveway a little too fast and ended up getting stuck in the snow bank. My brother and I were both inside at the time so after some teasing about her driving skills, we both headed out into the cold to scoop the snow away from her car. My brother had all the gear to head out into the cold to do the job while I had to borrow some boots. It didn’t take long to realize I didn’t have a stocking hat or gloves on. That country wind was cutting like a knife in just a few short minutes. Well thanks to my bro we got her car unstuck and safely back up towards the house.

How many of us have a preparedness kit in our cars for the unseen event of our vehicle breaking down along side of the road? ready.illinois.gov is a great resource to help you and your family prepare for any kind of disaster. I obviously wasn’t prepared to shovel out my sister’s car today. Being prepared can be the difference between life and death given the right circumstance.

Why does being prepared in your spiritual life matter? Don’t we just have to love God and love others? (Matthew 22:37-39) Yes of course! But we also must be ready to give an explanation for why we believe what we believe. Let’s take a look at 1 Peter 3:15-16 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. 16 But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.

I was caught off guard last week when someone I worked with asked me out of the blue, “Hey Kevin, do you have life figured out?” I could tell he was stressed a little and in deep thought when he asked me so I knew this shouldn’t be just a quick funny answer. After I explained to him why we were created and put here on this earth, I walked away from the conversation thinking I left out some things I wanted to say. I wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was if someone were to ask me about my faith. The Holy Spirit directed me and my thoughts, but it’s still up to me to be prepared at any moment to share the hope I have through Jesus Christ.

I know the Holy Spirit worked through that conversation because I saw the man I shared with at Crosspoint that Sunday. Praise God! If we are going to live Christ-like lives, then we must be prepared to give an account to others as to why we do what we do. Open up the preparedness kit given to us by God. The Bible. It’s the Swiss Army knife to anything you will encounter in this life.