TEOTWAWKI

There may be a few reading this that recognize the word used in the title.
Those of you, who know my background as a missionary in Kenya, East Africa,
may think that this is a word used there. Actually it is not and until a few
months ago I wasn't familiar with it either. Through some of my rather
diverse readings I saw the word and as my curiosity often does, it caused me
to look into it further.

What I found was that the word is not a word at all, but rather it is an
acronym. Now, so we will be on the same page, acronym is defined as:
"Acronyms and initialisms are abbreviations that are formed using the
initial components in a phrase or name." (Wikipedia)

So what does "TEOTWAWKI" stand for? "The End Of The World As We Know It."
With all of the apocalyptic movies and books which are available it's easy
to get the picture of what this might mean. Many of us are very concerned
for the future of our world and our country as we know it.

Some of us go to extremes to prepare for the end of the world as we know it.
Money, food, water, medical supplies, guns and ammunition are stored up for
that possible collapse of our society. Efforts are made to make ourselves
and our families as secure as we possibly can. Just do a search of the
Internet and you will find very quickly how wide spread the feeling of
immanent collapse is in our world.

The end result is, that no matter how much we plan and prepare for earthly
safety, it is still uncertain. There are always things for which we cannot
plan, things for which we cannot prepare. Life is like that, full of
surprises, full of things we never imagined might happen that do happen.

Personally, I have been preparing for TEOTWAWKI for around 50 years. When I
was a teenager, I came to understand that someday this world as we know it
will end. Notice what Peter wrote in 2 Peter 3:9-14, "The Lord is not slow
in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you,
not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the
day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a
roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything
in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way,
what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will
bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will
melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to
a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear
friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be
found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." (NIV)

So, God tells us the end is coming, but are we preparing the right things
for TEOTWAWKI? Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21, "Do not store up for
yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where
thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,
where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."(NIV)

I don't know about you, but as I might prepare some for a great disruption
to our social and economic system, I am preparing totally for the TEOTWAWKI
that God has prepared for us, how about you? Mark Twain shared these words
of wisdom, "Be careful to plan for your future, for that is where you will
spend the rest of your life."

Russ Lawson