Obviously, it does not take a prophet to comment on what should have been done after the opportunity for preparation has passed. Therefore, would not wisdom dictate that the warning to prepare should come at a time and season conducive to preparation? Yet, because there would seem, at that moment, no discernible need to make preparation, a natural response would be to put the matter off.

A true test of one's testimony of a prophet is whether or not he will follow his counsel, even if there seems at that moment no logical reason to do so. The only way is to live obediently, every day of our lives, so that we stay ready to meet our Lord and Savior.