The Scout Motto of the Scout movement, in various languages, has been used by millions of Scouts around the world since 1907. Most of the member organizations of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) share this same motto.
In English, the Scout Motto is most commonly Be Prepared. In the first part of Scouting for Boys, Robert Baden-Powell explains the meaning of the phrase:
The scouts' motto is founded on my initials; it is:
BE PREPARED,
which means you are always in a state of readiness in mind and body to do your DUTY;
Be Prepared in Mind by having disciplined yourself to be obedient to every order, and also by having thought out beforehand any accident or situation that might occur so that you know the right thing to do at the right moment and are willing to do it.
Be Prepared in Body by making yourself strong and active and able to do the right thing at the right moment, and do it.
— Lieut. Gen. Baden Powell C.B., Scouting for Boys (1908), "Camp Fire Yarn.—No. 4. Scout Law." (Part I, p. 48)
When I was reading about the Scout Motto, this thought crossed my mind - they are to be prepared in body and mind, but what about the soul?
The Bible says, ‘For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36
Every human being has a soul. The Bible makes it clear that while our bodies die, we, the living soul, go on forever. We need to be prepared for where our souls will be when we die. Again, the Bible states that there are only two destinations, Heaven or Hell. There are a lot of Bible verses to support this; if you want a list, please get in touch.
It seems as if the current generation in the Western world prepares for everything apart from the health and welfare of our souls.
We have house insurance, contents insurance, holiday insurance, pet insurance, car insurance, life insurance and even funeral plans so that our loved ones are not left struggling to pay for our funerals.
What if I told you that you can have the firm assurance that when you die, you will be going to heaven! You can be sure; that’s what the Bible and gospel of Jesus Christ are all about.
Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,’ John 14. 6. He was (and still is) promising that you can be sure of heaven (God the Father lives in heaven) by coming to Him - I will explain a bit more of what that means later in this article.
Over 2000 years ago, God sent His only Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) into this world. His sole purpose was to die. That is a strange objective, but please read on. He did not die because He was a bad person; in fact, it is the very opposite. He was the perfect person who never sinned or wronged anyone, so he did not deserve to die. Death is a natural and moral consequence of sin. We all degenerate, grow old and die because we live in bodies that are biologically flawed - sin affects us physically. But that’s not the only reason we die. Death is also the moral consequence of sin - the Bible states that ‘the wages of sin is death,’ Romans 6. 23, and also, ‘sin, when it is finished, brings forth death,’ James 1. 15. The incredible offer of forgiveness and eternal life is made as a result of the death of the perfect man, Christ Jesus. When Christ died on the cross, He took all the punishment we deserve for our sins, suffering as the ‘righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God,’ 1 Peter 3. 18.
So here’s the question - How do we prepare for the next life? How do we make sure that we are ready?
Firstly, bear in mind that God has made salvation available to you through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.
Secondly, to be saved and ready, you need to trust God and His Son to save you. Salvation is not something you do for yourself; it’s something you receive and benefit from.
Here is how the Bible explains becoming a Christian and being prepared for the next life - I must also point out that getting saved does also change your life now.
The Bible says, ‘whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,’ Acts 2. 21.
And, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved,’ Acts 16. 31.
There are many other verses that point to the Lord Jesus as being the only way to get to heaven. The big question you need to answer is - have you trusted in Him?
Trusting means asking God to forgive your sins. Making an about-turn in life and believing that He (Jesus) died for you.
There’s a hymn that I’ll end with as the lyrics are very thought-provoking:
The way to heaven is free for all,
Will you go? Will you go?
For Jew and Gentile, great and small,
Will you go? Will you go?
Make up your mind, give God your heart,
With every sin and idol part,
And now, for glory, make a start,
Will you go? Will you go?
The way to heaven is straight and plain,
Will you go? Will you go?
Repent, believe, be born again,
Will you go? Will you go?
The Saviour cries aloud to thee:
Take up thy cross and follow Me,
And thou shalt My salvation see,
Will you go? Will you go?
Richard Jukes (1804-67)
Please take the time to BE PREPARED.
Co-authored with Guest Blogger, Kerry Robinson.
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