A traveler became lost in the desert region of Algeria. Realizing his only chance for survival was to find civilization, he began walking.  Time passed, and he became thirsty. More time passed, and he began feeling faint. Reduced to crawling, he was on the verge of passing out when he spied a tent about 500 yards in front of him.  Barely conscious, he reached the tent and called out, "Water..."

A Bedouin appeared in the tent door and replied sympathetically, "I am sorry, sir, but I have no water.  However, would you like to buy a tie?" With this, he brandished a collection of exquisite silken ties.

"You fool," gasped the man. "I'm dying! I need water!"

"Well, sir," replied the Bedouin, "If you really need water, there is a tent about a mile south of here where you can get some."

Without knowing how, the man summoned sufficient strength to drag his parched body the distance to the second tent.  With his last ounce of strength he tugged at the door of the tent and collapsed.

Another Bedouin, dressed in a costly tuxedo, appeared at the door and inquired, "May I help you sir?"

"Water..." was the feeble reply.

"Oh, sir," replied the Bedouin, "I'm sorry, but you can't come in
here without a tie!"

There are events in our lives that seem to serve little purpose, but they prepare us for something that lies ahead. I am reminded of the story Jesus told in Matthew 25 about the wise and foolish virgins. The only difference between the two was that the wise virgins had made prior preparation.

The point of that parable is to stress the need to prepare our lives for the day when Jesus returns.

"Watch therefore,
for you know neither the day nor the hour
in which the Son of Man is coming."
(Matthew 25:13)

If we want eternal life later,
then now is the time
to start making preparation.