Scripture says in Proverbs 27:12, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on and are punished.”
So, after news of extreme rioting and looting across the United States, I acted. With Bible-based, frugal foresight, I stocked up more than usual on provisions. I bought a variety of dried fruits, nuts, grains, beans and sealed them in empty canning jars with with my handy Pump-and-Seal food vacuum sealer. Most of them I have had to seal twice.
The Pump-and-Seal is a handy device I learned of from an Audioverse.org talk involving Pam Dysinger and a few other women. With their endorsement, I ordered the gadget so as to maximize my storage capacity without over-filling my freezers. What fun to place the reusable yellow Tab-Chek stickers across tiny holes I had poked in the center of the lids. Pump a few seconds, and the jar is sealed. My pantry cupboards were full already, so I'd stock the open shelves in the basement.
My plan went forward, and soon the basement shelves were full of dried goods, vacuum-sealed air-tight. In my “prudence,” I imagined feeding our family if riots should threaten our rural county. Or maybe I could help feed hungry neighbors or church members. The jars would stay sealed and fresh until needed, maybe for years.
Winter transitioned us from central heat to the wood furnace in the basement. One day after tending the fire I strolled to the far wall to appraise my stock of vacuum-sealed food. Hmmm. What’s going on down here? The newspaper I had laid across each row of jars was in disarray. Well, mice do stroll around down here at times. But they never bothered our applesauce.
Hey, what happened to my jars? The Tab-Cheks are gone. Well, not completely. But they're all torn up, the seals are broken...and now I have to do all that work again! Who or what...?!?
At least 130 jars were unsealed, just like these. Only a few were untouched.
A little Voice whispered Matthew 6:19 in my ear, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal.” But I was just trying to plan ahead. I buy groceries in bulk, you see, saving money wherever I can. I ordered most of the food from Country Life Natural Foods through our sister church. And most people who live in the country stock up enough to last until the next season, at least.
Who knew that mice would “break through” and spoil my foresight and labor? They even left their little black calling cards behind, though they could not get in the jars. Alas, each lid had to be sanitized, wiped clean, and re-sealed. This gave me time to think.
I recalled some counsel given in 1849 “To those who are receiving the seal of the living God”. Are you receiving this seal? Am I? If you open the link and never finish reading my article, you will be well blessed. Yes, yes, I had read this material, especially the section most quoted by others:
For two years past, the Lord has shown me in vision, repeatedly, that it is contrary to the Bible to make any provision for our temporal wants in the time of trouble. I saw that if the saints have food laid up by them, or in the fields, in the time of trouble when sword, famine, and pestilence are in the land, it will be taken from them by violent hands and strangers would reap their fields. Then will be the time for us to trust wholly in God, and he will sustain us. I saw that our bread and water would be sure at that time, and we should not lack, or suffer hunger.—The Lord has shown me that some of his children would fear when they see the price of food rising, and they would buy food and lay it by for the time of trouble. Then in a time of need, I saw them go to their food and look at it, and it had bred worms, and was full of living creatures, and not fit for use. About one week since, the Lord showed me in vision, that houses and lands would be of no use in the time of trouble, and in that time they could not be disposed of. I saw it was the will of God that the saints should cut loose from every encumbrance—dispose of their houses and lands before the time of trouble comes, and make a covenant with God by sacrifice. I saw they would sell if they laid their property on the altar and earnestly inquired for duty. Then God will teach them when to dispose of these things. Then they will be free in the time of trouble, and have no clogs to weigh them down. {Broadside 2 January 31, 1849, par. 9, emphasis supplied}
I reasoned that possibly my few shelves of jars were within the limits allowed by normal household provisions. I should at least prepare something for the “little time of trouble”. Surely the Pump-and-Seal would prevent the breeding of worms, in any case. My poor, deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9). Where had I put my trust? While thanking God for my “daily bread” (Matthew 6:11), I was providing for myself as though He may not always come through, even while claiming to believe my “bread and water” will be “sure” (Isaiah 33:16). God knows the difference between grabbing a bargain and preparing to solve emergencies without Him. Through this small setback (small now that I've resealed all the jars!), He is warning me to keep my trust in Him, solely in Him. He wants to seal me for His kingdom, and I dare not risk compromising His work by my distracted self-reliance.
The closing paragraphs of the 1849 article speak clearly to our time. Here is the sealing process most needful of my time and attention:
Now is the time to lay up treasure in heaven, and to set our hearts in order, ready for the time of trouble. Those only who have clean hands and a pure heart will stand that trying time. Now is the time for the law of God to be in our minds (foreheads), and written in our hearts. The Lord has shown me the danger of letting our minds be filled with worldly thoughts and cares. I saw that some minds were led away from present truth and a love of the holy Bible, by reading other exciting books; and others were filled with perplexity and care for what they shall eat, drink and wear. I saw some, looking too far off for the coming of the Lord. Time has continued on a few years longer than they expected, therefore they think it may continue a few years more, and in this way their minds are being led from present truth, out after the world. In these things I saw great danger; for if the mind is filled with other things, present truth is shut out, and there is no place in our foreheads for the seal of the living God. This seal is the Sabbath. I saw that the time for Jesus to be in the most holy place was nearly finished, and that time can last but a very little longer; and what leisure time we have should be spent in searching the Bible, which is to judge us in the last day. {Broadside 2 January 31, 1849, par. 11, emphasis supplied.}
I have cleaned and resealed all the jars with new tabs. I turned them upside down, hopefully making them mouse-proof.
My husband also set a few mouse traps.
I am asking God to show me better ways to prepare for the uncertain future before Jesus returns. More and more, I seek wisdom from above, that I may be a faithful steward of His houses, His land, His cars and His sealed jars of food. Whether I use or lose these, if and when I should give or sell them, I seek first His kingdom (Matthew 6:33), trusting His provision above my own.
Holly Joers writes from Van Buren County, Arkansas, home of preppers and patriots, where she is learning to live by faith.