Am I Reactive or Proactive?

I recently had a conversation with my mother about the ongoing worldwide pandemic. She mentioned how experts claim to have warned that America would not be prepared to handle a pandemic, but despite the warnings nothing was done until it was too late [I promise to bypass the conspiracy theories].

The approach of many people around the world, and certainly within our nation, to COVID-19 could be labeled as reactive. By this, I mean that actions were taken in response to the unfolding circumstances. This is not uncommon, as Newton's well-known third law of motion lets us know that for every action there follows a reaction which is similar in size, yet opposite in direction. Hindsight is often 20/20 (a now infamous number) and I can imagine many people entering this year differently if they had insight of the ensuing events. I know I would have.

It can be easy to ignore warnings or take them for granted. The dentist warns me every year of the potential consequences of not flossing, and yet with each visit I somehow accumulate more packs of dental floss in my medicine cabinet than I actually use. Flossing my teeth would be a proactive approach because my actions now would prevent, avoid or delay future problems. But if I wait for my teeth to rot, then my reactive approach will be too little too late. Help me, Lord!

Throughout scripture there are hundreds of warnings regarding future events, such as the flood, Israel's slavery in Egypt and captivity, the Messiah and the end times. Jesus warned His disciples of His return using a parable that depicts a faithful servant and an evil servant in Luke 12. The faithful one is described as the servant who is watching and awaiting the master's return, regardless of the inconvenient timing. The evil servant believes the master is delayed and is described as abusive towards other servants, drunk and not looking for the master.

Unfortunately, the evil servant had a reactive approach. His circumstances caused him to wrongly believe that his master was postponing his return. He reacts to this with a self-serving attitude and indulges in sinful and foolish behavior. On the contrary, the faithful servant takes a proactive approach as he lives in a state of constant awareness, preparing and eagerly looking forward to his master's return.

As followers of Christ, we cannot afford to be reactive as we live in these last days. Instead, we must be proactive by preparing ourselves for His return, remaining sober and watchful (1 Peter 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8, 1 Peter 1:13-16). Jesus warned that the servant who knows the master's will and decides to neither prepare himself nor do his master's will is going to face punishment (Luke 12:47).

Distractions must be conquered with devotion and discipline.

We have been given all of the warnings and signs. Let us be diligent to not make the same mistake. Some of us didn't realize the devastating effects of this virus, but God's Word is true and everything will come to pass just as it is written because He declared it so. We must seek to understand the Lord's will and we must choose to walk in it, preparing and eagerly awaiting our Master's return.