#soap # Jeremiah 47 ## Title: Prepare for the Future ## Scripture: (Jeremiah 47:2) “Look! Enemies are gathering in the north like water rising in a river. They will be like an overflowing stream. They will overwhelm the whole country and everything in it like a flood. They will overwhelm the cities and their inhabitants. People will cry out in alarm. Everyone living in the country will cry out in pain. (NET) ## Observation: Imagine a storm was coming. Imagine all your neighbors preparing their homes for the wind and rain, everyone making trips to the store to grab supplies, and filling up their cars with gas. Now, also imagine one of your neighbors doing nothing. Imagine they are laughing at everyone preparing and saying nothing will come. When the storm DOES arrive, how sad will it be for that foolish neighbor? This scenario happens all the time in life. God’s Word tells us to prepare for bad days. We should prepare for difficulties because God’s Word does not promise we will never suffer. God’s Word also says not everyone will appreciate our pursuit of God. However, we laugh and say these things will never happen. How different are we from the foolish neighbor when we refuse to listen to the warnings of God’s Word? In today’s passage, Jeremiah is telling the people of Philistia that destruction is coming. How many times does God’s Word warn us of bad times? We need to pay attention and be prepared. ## Application: Good and bad times come. Be ready for both. ## Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for walking with us through every season.