This is National Boy Scouts Day.

The Boy Scouts of America is about 100 years old. You may not know much about the organization, but you’ve probably heard their motto: “Be prepared.”

That’s great advice for Scouts who are hiking and camping. The equipment needs to be in good shape, the food and other supplies need to be gathered, and everyone needs to be organized. Heading out for adventure unprepared could bring serious problems.

But that motto gives great advice for non-Scouts and for the rest of life, too. Good preparation is important for students in school, for athletes on teams, for workers on the job, for anyone who wants to do be successful and do something well.

When talking to his followers, Jesus used the same expression: Be prepared. He was explaining that he would ascend to heaven after his resurrection and that he would come to earth a second time in the future. He made the point that no one knows the exact time of his second coming, so they should always be prepared for it.

Being prepared for Christ’s return means living as though he might come at any moment. A good way to do this is to ask, “Would I like to be doing this when Jesus returns?” If you have a close walk with God and you spend time with him through prayer and Bible reading, you can look forward to Jesus’ second coming as a wonderful, exciting day, and the beginning of eternity with him in heaven.

So what about it—are you prepared?

So be prepared, because you don’t know what day your Lord is coming (Matthew 24:42).

To Do

Read Matthew 24:1-30. On a sheet of paper, list all the signs of the second coming of Christ.

Also on this day . . .

This is Kite Flying Day.

1693—A charter was granted for the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA.

1922—The White House began using the radio after President Harding had it installed.

From Betsy Schmitt and Dave Veerman, 365 Trivia Twist Devotions: An Almanac of Fun Facts and Spiritual Truth for Every Day of the Year (Cincinnati: Standard, 2005). Scripture quotations are from the New Living Translation unless otherwise noted.