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Preparing for the day means being awake to what Scripture says about the days ahead.
It points to living with a readiness that goes deeper than routine. Many of us say we believe Jesus will return, but how many of us live like it could happen at any time?
Arthur J. Besler addresses this in his book How? How? How?: Jesus Can We Have Your Church Fired Up? The author takes a persistent look at where the Church stands today and what it needs to get back on track. His concern is that many believers are asleep to the times. And when the day does come, we may not be as ready as we think.
Why Revelation Still Speaks Today
Some avoid the book of Revelation because it feels too heavy or hard to understand. Truth is, many of us can typically relate to that perception… “It’s too complex to grasp.”
Others treat it like a puzzle to solve. But the Revelation was not written to complicate or entertain. It was written to prepare.
The Revelation helps us stay open-eyed. It reminds us that history has a direction and that we are not meant to be passive as we wait. It holds both a warning and a promise. For those who believe, it says, “Keep going. Stay faithful. Do not drift.”
This is the crux of Besler’s message. He draws a straight line between the Church we see in the New Testament and the one we see now. Something important has been lost. In trying to be modern or relevant, many churches have stopped functioning as Jesus intended. That drift affects everyone sitting in the pews.
What the Church Was Meant to Be
When we look at the early Church, we see more than a gathering of people. We see structure and purpose. Every believer had a role, and the leaders weren’t just figureheads. Apostles led and planted. Prophets gave guidance. Evangelists spread the word. Pastors cared for the flock. Teachers gave clarity.
Arthur J. Besler alludes that these five roles are not just options, but the core of how the Church should operate. When any of them are missing, the Church becomes unbalanced. And when the structure is off, the results can be seen in the lives of the people.
Preparing for the day means returning to this design. It denotes that churches should do more than hold services. They should equip believers for the work of ministry. That work transpires outside the building, in real life, and even in ordinary conversations, essentially in moments when truth is needed most.
The Problem with Religious Routine
One of the strongest parts of Besler’s book is his concern about what he calls the “religious mindset.” This mindset values tradition over truth. It holds to habits that may not be grounded in the Bible. As time passes, this way of thinking spreads through churches. It replaces living faith with comfort and culture.
Jesus spoke directly to this in Revelation. His letters to the seven churches included hard truths. Some had good reputations but were spiritually dead. Others had allowed false teaching to take root. Still others had grown lukewarm. None of them were perfect, but Jesus still reached out to them. You can read these letters in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, where each message speaks to a real struggle the Church still faces today.
This latches onto something important. Jesus cares about how His Church functions. He does not want a crowd that listens but never acts. He wants a body that follows Him closely. That includes calling out the areas where we have drifted.
Daily Readiness Is More Than a Concept
Preparing for the day is not something we do once and then move on. In fact, it is a way of living. Each day brings choices that either move us closer to Jesus or pull us away. When we live with this awareness, we begin to see things differently. We don’t panic. We don’t try to predict the future. We simply stay ready.
This readiness clings to being entrenched in Scripture so that we can spot what is false. This is what it means to live withdaily preparedness.
Arthur J. Besler reminds us that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are part of how the Church stays strong and prepared. These gifts were active in the early Church. They should still be active now. Without them, we are running on empty.
Anticipating Tomorrow Without Fear
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Some may hear messages about Revelation and feel fear. But fear is not the point. The Bible does not call us to be anxious about the future. It calls us to be awake. There is a difference.
Anticipating tomorrow is not about hiding or guessing the hour. It is about living with purpose today. When we do this, we won’t be caught off guard. We will be like the servant who stays ready because he knows his master will return.
Undeniably, Besler is unambiguous about this. His goal is not to scintillate fear but to clear away the haze. The Church cannot afford to move without direction. We need to know our roles. We need to call each other to faithfulness. And we need to live in such a way that, when the day comes, we won’t be scrambling to prepare.
What Will Jesus Find?
In the book, Besler shares a thought-provoking image. He says Jesus may return to find only one out of ninety-nine still standing in His presence. That should cause us to stop and think. Not out of guilt, but out of love for the One we claim to follow.
Each of us must ask: What will Jesus find when He looks at my life? Am I walking with Him daily? Am I part of a church that functions biblically? Am I learning to use the gifts God gave me?
Preparing for end times requires a heart that is set on Jesus. It means living with both feet planted in truth and a mind that is alert to the world around us.
Preparing for the day: A Steady Return to Truth
How? How? How?: Jesus Can We Have Your Church Fired Up? is a powerful book that articulates plainly and asks important questions. It urges readers to examine closely the Church and themselves. It gives a clear call to return to the foundation Jesus laid.
It is a masterwork – one that encourages us to start preparing for the day.
If you have been sensing that something is missing in the Church today, or in your own walk with God, this book offers a place to start. It does not provide all the answers, but it will guide you toward the right questions. And sometimes, that is what we need most.
You can find How? How? How?: Jesus Can We Have Your Church Fired Up? by Arthur J. Besler through your preferred bookseller. Reading it on your own is helpful. Reading it with your church or small group could be even better. Either way, it’s a timely read for those who want to be prepared. Grab a copy today.
