Preparing Ourselves

Every believer is called to live with the awareness that this world is not the final destination. The Bible describes us as sojourners, people journeying toward an eternal home. This awareness should shape how we think, make decisions, and live each day. The world indeed offers many pleasant and attractive things, but remember that all of them are temporary. In contrast, the Kingdom of God is eternal and is the true hope for every believer.

So, how do we prepare ourselves for that eternal Kingdom? First, we must understand that the world is only a temporary stop. The apostle Peter reminds us to live as those “sojourning in this world” (1 Peter 1:17). That means we must not let our hearts become attached to and bound by temporary things. God does not forbid us from enjoying His blessings, but He desires that we do not make worldly comfort our life’s goal. When the heart loves the world too much, we find it hard to prioritize God’s will. Conversely, those who live as sojourners will always set their eyes on the eternal home.

Second, we must have the right attitude toward possessions and every gift God entrusts to us. Everything we have is actually God’s stewardship. Wealth, abilities, time, position, and talents are not given solely for personal benefit but to be used for the glory of His name. When we recognize that all comes from God, we become more easily faithful managers. We are motivated to serve, share, and develop every potential God has given for the advancement of His Kingdom.

Third, we must continually experience a renewal of life. Putting off the old self and putting on the new self is not an event completed in one day but a lifelong process. God calls us to live in holiness because the standard of a believer’s life is the holiness of the Father Himself. Indeed, we are saved by grace through faith, not by good works. Yet true faith will always produce an obedient life. Works are not the basis of salvation, but they become evidence that our faith is alive and that Christ truly rules in our hearts.

The Lord’s Prayer ends with the word “amen.” This word comes from Hebrew and means “truly,” “so be it,” or “let it be so.” Interestingly, the Lord Jesus Himself often prefaced His words with “amen” to underscore that what He said was absolute truth. In Revelation 3:14, Jesus introduces Himself as “the Amen, the faithful and true witness.” This shows that His whole person and His words can be fully trusted.

Therefore, when we end a prayer by saying “amen,” we are not merely closing a prayer but declaring the seriousness of our hearts that we believe God’s promises and are willing to live according to His will. Saying “amen” means surrendering all our hope to Christ and being willing to live the life He teaches, even if it means sacrificing personal comfort. Preparation for the Kingdom of God does not begin when our life ends but today. Let us embrace living as faithful sojourners, managing every blessing as God’s trust, living in holiness, and letting every “amen” we speak become a real commitment to obey Christ, the Amen, who is faithful and true.