Here in southern California, we are finding out a lot about disaster preparedness after the devastating wildfires that have taken lives and left thousands homeless in nearby Pacific Palisades and Altadena. Things like thinking ahead about what you would want to take with you if you had to evacuate and having it ready to go, a designated place of contact with someone outside the area in case your family gets separated, installing a sprinkler system on your roof, never letting your gas tank get below half full, having an emergency generator handy for power failures, and an emergency pack or two handy in case of fire or other natural disasters like earthquakes — something else we have to think about around here. These things have become painfully real in the last few weeks.

Now my wife is much more conscious about these thing than I am. She has seen to it that we have at least three emergency packs spread around the house and garage, and she’s trying to get me to keep the gas tank full.

However I’m more inclined to do what many do about this: live in a state of denial that if another disaster happens, it won’t happen to me. I’ve heard a number of comments from victims of these recent fires who never thought they would see the day when they would lose everything. It’s almost impossible to imagine.

If anything, these latest fires have shown me what has been wrong about my thinking on this. We live in a relatively flat area away from the hills that surround us. It’s easy to think that the houses nestled in the foothills behind us close to the wilderness areas behind them are the most vulnerable. We’re pretty safe here on the flatlands. But the Palisades fire that started in the wilderness fed by 100 mph hot dry winds off the desert sweeping through the mountain passes and blowing and burning all the way to the ocean changed all that. They say the fire was moving as fast as three mph. At that rate, a fire coming off the ridge behind my house would reach our block in less than 30 minutes. So much for denial.

Realizing that we are just as vulnerable as these areas that have burned in the last few weeks has brought a much greater sense of urgency about getting prepared for the next disaster that could be coming our way. And what about our neighbors? It’s a chance to come together with them and talk seriously about what we would do.

And suddenly I thought of the return of Christ. Are we ready for that? I just don’t think you can think about a natural disaster like the one that has happened here without thinking spiritually about the end of the world and the return of Christ. How are were doing on that? We need a spiritual perspective about disaster preparedness on that level as well. Are we in denial about this too? Are we being as nonchalant about the end of the world as we are about the next natural disaster? Shouldn’t we be preparing for the return of Christ and helping others get prepared too?

The scriptures tell us to watch and wait for the Lord’s return. In the first 13 verses of Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable about 10 bridesmaids who went out to meet the bridegroom. But five of them were foolish and didn’t bring enough oil to keep their lamps burning. The other five brought extra oil so when the bridegroom was delayed, they still had enough to keep their lamps burning, but the others who had to go to town to get more oil ended up missing the party altogether. “So you, too, must keep watch!” Said Jesus, “For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”

Jesus told us in Matthew 25:10-14 that we need to be prepared for dangerous times ahead, and the world He described sounds a lot like the one we are in right now. “Many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another… and many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people … and because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold … but the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved.”

And finally, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” There you have what He wants us to be doing until the end: preach the gospel of the kingdom. Not that we are all supposed to be preachers, but we all know the gospel and our neighbors need to know about the gospel of the kingdom and the difference it can make in their lives now and through eternal life later. You represent the gospel of welcome which means exactly what it says, everyone is welcome. Turn the grace you have received outward to your neighbors, friends, people who serve you in your community. As He has been gracious to you, be gracious to everyone without judgment. That’s how the gospel of the kingdom is preached.

We have the light, so “keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.” (Luke 12:35) Like keeping plenty of gas in your car, always have plenty of oil handy, because you never know when the bridegroom will show up.