“We despaired even of life: But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.”
(2Cor. 1:9)
A definition for the idiom used in our title is: the most unpleasant or serious thing that could happen in a situation. Paul was far from being a pessimist, but he was a realist. The Apostle always, as they say, “hoped for the best, but prepared for the worst.” His was not a foolish faith.
One area where this principle is applicable is prophecy. The fact that our Lord is coming back to earth a second time is settled in concrete, but the particulars surrounding it have been debated by good and godly men for more than two-thousand years, and will continue till He comes.
There’s several views of the events associated with Christ’s historic return. Some are easily digested, while others are hard to swallow. So much so that many simply refuse to consider them; for if found to be true, they would have to go against their long held prophetic beliefs. Plus experience the unpleasantries connected with that particular position.
Many years ago I stood by the hospital bed of a young, newly married, eighteen-year-old girl. She had been in a horrific car accident, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. Everyone, understandably, was praying for her healing, that she would walk again. I then did the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I said, “Tina, if you walk again, we can easily work that into your schedule. But life in a wheelchair? You’ll need to prepare for that.” She did! And now, after these many, many, years is still serving God; in her wheelchair. Alongside her precious and beloved husband, John.
The moral of this story? We need to prepare for the worst thing that could happen to us, prophetically speaking; if it doesn’t come to pass, we can work that in.
By An OLd Disciple
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