As I've said before, I am always listening for the Holy Spirit to bring to my attention various blog topics. Today was no exception. I already knew that I needed to address the growing economic crisis in our nation. After all, you have to have your head in the sand if you aren't aware that our nation is facing a time of intense difficulty and doubt in our financial system. Yes, we've faced it before; in 1929 and most recently, in 2008. The response has always been government intervention in the form of bailouts, buyouts, or the printing of more money (as in just adding more zeros to the fabricated bank ledgers).
In full disclosure, I am not a financial expert and I am not qualified to give financial advice, but I'm smart enough to know that our financial standing in the world is falling at a drastic rate; we haven't managed our national debt at all; the markets are being manipulated to benefit the powerful and the global elites; and none of it is good for the common man. From what I am gleaning from the talking heads, this latest financial debacle has brought us to the point where our backs are against the wall. Every solution only leads to more debt, higher inflation, and the likelihood of a recession [or even a depression] that will affect the whole world.
You can feel the panic in the air. Banks are being overrun with phone calls inquiring about the safety of their money. But don't worry, the Big Boys have already got theirs. What we need to worry about is that their greed may likely lead to financial pain for the rest of us. But we have to own up to the part we've played, too. Let's face it ... both the US government and the average American household has been living beyond their means for far too long. With the banks failing, there is no one to finance the lifestyles we've become accustomed to [even though a lot of us could not afford them]. We've always relied on Uncle Sam to come to the rescue, but he's run out of options -- foreign governments no longer want to loan to us, and the value of the dollar is declining faster than we can print it. Now it's time to pay the piper. But if we all cut back on our spending and are forced to live within our means [and most likely way beneath our means], then a recession is likely, and the future no longer looks bright.
So, I've been contemplating this financial turmoil that is threatening to engulf us all and wondering, first of all, how do I look at this from my Biblical perspective? We know that Jesus warned us about the love of money and making it an idol. But maybe it's time we all ask ourselves the crucial question: In 2008, author Mario Seiglie posted an article on that financial crisis in Beyond Today, and asked, "What is our true currency? It shouldn't be money, but faith. If we are faithful to God, He will provide. In a period of widespread famine, He fed the prophet Elijah through ravens bringing him food for many days. God can intervene in many ways to provide for His obedient and faithful servants".
It's now 15 years later, and the financial ground we stand on is even more unstable. This current crisis threatens to affect the entire world. The merchants of the earth are in fear of a total collapse. Is this leading to the End Times prophecy spoken of in Revelation 17-19, when the political and economic systems of the world fall into great upheaval, and the kings of the earth collaborate with a dominant leader and give him their power and authority to bring order out of the chaos? No one can accurately predict that at this moment. BUT, when the peoples of the world [and their leaders] become desperate, they will be willing to give away their freedoms to a "savior" figure. In the case of world leaders they will only be too willing to share their power with anyone who can promise a return to security and prosperity. And the Bible tells us that there will be a powerful and influential person only too willing to step into that role and exploit global depressions and the aftermath of economic destruction that are the natural consequences of the wars that will follow. We only have to look at Hitler to see what the Bible says this person will look like.
We may not be able to predict when that Biblical truth will play out, but our Redeemer, Jesus Christ, tells us to "keep alert at all times [be attentive and ready], praying that you may have the strength and ability [to be found worthy and] to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man [at His coming]." And just like the parable of the fig tree, we are to recognize the season of such troubles, and know that it is near [Matthew 24:32-34]. When we see those signs it will be most important that the currency we trade in is our faith.
It is our faith that will give us hope, just as Jesus tells the Church at Sardis in Revelation 3:10: Because you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere], I will keep you [safe] from the hour of trial, that hour which is about to come on the whole [inhabited] world, to test those who live on the earth. It will be our assignment as the Ekklesia and as ambassadors of Heaven, to encourage and reassure those [both Christians and non-believers] who will be shattered and crushed because they won't know their place in a world caught up in uproar and pandemonium. It will be our faith that will see us through and enable us to endure the dark days, knowing that our protection, security, and victory lies in the measure of faith we have been storing up for just such a time as this. We will remain faithful and strong, and we will pass the test!
#economiccrisis #faithintimesoftrouble #trustingjesus
Romans 8:18 For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of this present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!
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