VOL XVII / ISSUE 03 / MARCH 2021

Preparing to Live Off the Grid

By Carter Conlon

Have you considered the fact that we are extremely vulnerable when it comes to this world's power grid? If there were to be some kind of attack—whether through the internet, an explosion, or whatever can be produced by another nation these days—we are extremely vulnerable. As a matter of fact, our power could go out in a moment, and everything would shut down. Even our military generals are incredibly concerned about this in our country today.

However, in the last couple of decades, there are people who have found various ways to get off the power grid. Obviously, one alternate and ever-reliable energy source in this world is the sun. It has a proven track record of reliability. It comes up at almost the same time every morning and goes down around the same time at night. The sun causes things to grow; it causes the vapors on the earth to ascend so that clouds can be formed to give rain to the land. It is no surprise that many people in this world are turning to the sun for their energy supply. Still others are relying on the wind as an alternate power source. Even in the summertime, we see wind turbines all over the place supplying energy. I applaud all these efforts to become more self-sufficient should the power grid of this world fail.

PROVISION FOR THE DAYS AHEAD

In the book of Luke, Jesus talked about a person who made provision for the difficult days that he knew were approaching. "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.' Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses'" (Luke 16:1–4).

This man lived outside the kingdom of God and was called an unjust steward. When he found out he was about to be cut off from his stewardship—or heaven's supply—he used the wisdom he had to create what we might consider an "alternate source of supply." He reached out to his master's debtors and alleviated a portion of their debts that he might find favor with them when he needed it.

After telling this parable, Jesus makes a statement: "For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light" (Luke 16:8). The children of this world—those who are dependent on this world for their sense of wellbeing—are sometimes wiser than the followers of Christ. They are making preparation for the days that are ahead. This brings me to a question: What provisions are you making for the future?

I am sure you are aware that difficult days are coming. I have had a warning in my heart for the last three or four years that this world is mounting its last offensive against the lordship of Jesus Christ. We are seeing an increasing lawlessness all over the world. An antichrist spirit seems to be gripping societies all over—even ones that formerly knew the light of God. Jesus warned us that men's hearts are going to fail them "from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken" (Luke 21:26). And so we would be wise to prepare ourselves now.

TRUSTING THE SON

I believe the first thing we must do is begin to get off this world's power supply. Of course, I am talking about a shift of focus—a shift from attaining our sense of wellbeing and assurance for the future from what the world offers. As some people in this world are turning to the sun for their source of supply, in the Kingdom of God, we would be wise to shift all our trust to the Son of God—the faithful One who never fails!

As it says in the book of John: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it" (John 1:1–5). In other words, people who are looking to the things of this world to give them life and light are eventually going to be utterly disappointed. But those who look to the Son of God will never be disappointed, for He is the light that has been there since the beginning. The Son of God has always been a reliable power supply!

MORE RELIABLE THAN THE WIND

In the book of Ezekiel, we read about another time when everybody's life source had failed them. People felt like dry bones in the dust; they did not know where to turn. But the Lord spoke to Ezekiel and said, "Prophesy to the breath..." In other words, speak the Word to the breath of God, for it is God who, by His speech, creates life. "Prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus says the Lord God: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."' So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army" (Ezekiel 37:9–10).

While others in the world are turning to the wind for their alternate energy supply, I believe it is time for us to turn and speak to the "breath of God" just as Ezekiel did. Remember, it is God who, by His speech, creates life. When He speaks, He puts things into motion. As the scripture says, God "calls those things which do not exist as though they did" (Romans 4:17). You see, God does not need to have anything in order to create something. Just by the words of His mouth, He can lift you out of your depression and make you into a person who will stand in the storm that we all soon will have to face. So begin to speak the Word and watch as God moves on your behalf.

A POWER SUPPLY THAT CANNOT BE EXTINGUISHED

Remember, this world's power supply can be taken out in less than an hour. It is like the warning in Revelation that says, "In one hour your judgment has come" (Revelation 18:10). This world can lose all its false comforts, all its bravado, all its assurances of a future in just a moment of time. But the Son of God is eternal and everlasting. He was there in the beginning, and He will be here when it is all over. To all who turn to Him, He promises to be a power supply that will never fail.

I want to challenge you today to pull the plug wherever you need to. Of course, I am not suggesting that you turn the lights out in your house. What I am suggesting is that you pull the plug on wherever your trust is not founded in the Son of God. Never forget that He is faithful to keep all His promises. He is the one who can save you and your family to the uttermost. That is why it says in the book of 1 John, "I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" (1 John 5:13). In other words, as you believe in Jesus, you will have a strong confidence, for you will be attached to a power supply that this world knows nothing about. If the world turns dark, your light will shine even brighter than any false hope that this world has to offer.

And so it is time to ask God for what only He can give you. As the scripture tells us: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything, according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him" (1 John 5:14–15). As we ask the Lord, He will surely give us the power, the security, and the assurance of a future that we are all longing for. He will endow us with the strength to stand when the land starts shaking, societies start dissolving, and the ungodly rise up against the testimony of Christ. But remember, even if people stand outside and rage against the sun all they want, it will still come up in the morning and go down at night. In the same way, the ungodly may rage against the Son of God, but He is still the Alpha and Omega. He is still God, and there is nothing they can do to change that!

The good news is that as we trust the Lord to be our strength and stability in troubled times, it will not be just for our sake. God is willing to give us such a source of life that people will be drawn to us. As the apostle Peter said, "Be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you" (1 Peter 3:15). It is evident that this world is very quickly losing its hope. But the Bible says that you shall receive power when the Spirit of God comes upon you (see Acts 1:8). You shall be witnesses of the reality of God and the lasting hope that is found in Him. You will be a voice for good—a herald with light and oil in your lamp that will call people to the throne of God in a season of incredible darkness!

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