Living Ready in an Unpredictable World
Forest Park Church – January 4, 2026
By Jason Corder
Standing on the temple steps in Matthew 24, the disciples are admiring what seems immovable.
Massive stones.
Stunning architecture.
A symbol of permanence.
It represented security and stability — this will always be here.
Then Jesus says:
“Do you see all these things? Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:1–2)
In a moment, their certainty collapses.
We know that feeling.
A job disappears.
A diagnosis comes.
A relationship breaks.
A plan falls apart.
We live in a world where the future feels increasingly unpredictable.
So beneath the disciples’ question — When will this happen? — is a deeper one:
How do you live well when you don’t know what’s coming next?
I. Looking Ahead Without Losing Balance
Matthew 24:3
The disciples want a timeline.
Jesus gives them a posture.
We all approach the future differently:
- Some avoid it.
- Some obsess over it.
- Some over-plan.
- Some drift and hope for the best.
But Jesus redirects the conversation from prediction to preparation.
A Whole-Life Faith
God didn’t design you as a single-layer being. He created you as a whole person.
Life is like a wheel, not a slice of pie. If one area collapses, everything wobbles.
Key areas God calls us to steward:
- Spiritual
- Family
- Social
- Physical
- Work / Calling
When one is ignored, imbalance follows.
A. Spiritual Alignment Comes First
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind.” (Matthew 22:37)
When our goals contradict our convictions, something fractures inside us.
We lose clarity.
We lose joy.
We lose spiritual momentum.
A misaligned life is exhausting.
B. Relationships Are Not Optional
God designed us for connection.
When life becomes all grind and no grace:
- Friendships fade.
- Families drift.
- Regret shows up later.
No one reaches the end of life wishing they had sent more emails.
C. Your Body Matters to God
“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
God no longer dwells behind curtains and pillars — He dwells in you.
You only get one body on this side of eternity.
Burn it out, and ministry suffers.
Ignore rest, and joy fades.
Neglect health, and service becomes harder.
Jesus said:
“The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
D. You Are Not God
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go…” (Psalm 32:8)
This world does not rest on your shoulders.
You are not responsible for holding everything together.
You are not required to foresee every outcome.
You are not expected to get everything right.
You will fail.
You will misstep.
You will make decisions you wish you could redo.
God is still sovereign.
Faith is not knowing the whole path ahead.
It is trusting the Guide who knows it completely.
When we release the burden of trying to be God, we discover the peace of letting God be God.
II. Preparing for What’s Next
Matthew 25:1–13
Jesus shifts from warning to illustration — the Parable of the Ten Virgins.
All ten were invited.
All ten were waiting.
All ten expected the groom.
But when the moment came:
Five were ready.
Five assumed they had time.
They all slept.
They all woke.
They all heard the call.
But only some were prepared.
“Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” (Proverbs 27:1)
Preparation is not panic.
It is not fear-driven urgency.
Preparation is faithfulness over time.
Quiet obedience.
Daily trust.
A life steadily shaped by walking with God.
When the moment comes, we don’t rely on what we meant to do — we rely on what we’ve practiced.
III. Timeless Principles for Living Ready
1. We Prepare Through Prayer
Colossians 1:9–12
Prayer produces:
- Endurance when life is hard
- Patience when answers are slow
- Joy when circumstances don’t change
- Gratitude before results come
Prayer doesn’t always change the future. Sometimes it changes us for the future.
2. We Prepare by Holding to Timeless Truth
“Rooted and built up in Him…” (Colossians 2:7–8)
Not every new idea is a good idea.
Culture shifts.
Trends fade.
Truth remains.
Real preparation requires:
- Intaking Scripture
- Reflecting deeply
- Cultivating discernment
There are no shortcuts to spiritual depth.
3. We Prepare by Knowing Ourselves
“Search me, O God…” (Psalm 139:23–24)
Spiritual maturity requires honest self-examination.
Growth doesn’t happen accidentally — it happens intentionally.
Unexamined faith is vulnerable faith.
4. We Remember the Ultimate Authority
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord…” (Colossians 3:23–24)
You don’t live for applause.
You don’t work for approval.
You serve Christ.
When Jesus is your authority:
- Fear loses power.
- Faith gains strength.
- Obedience becomes joy.
Ready for Whatever Comes Next
“Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)
The future may bring:
- Caves
- Storms
- Giants
- Graves
- Chains
But God has always carried His people through:
- The Red Sea
- The wilderness
- The valley
- The deep waters
The question isn’t what comes next.
The question is whether you are prepared to trust God when it does.
When you are ready — whatever comes next becomes another place where God proves faithful.
