The state of our faith...

Wow,
What a weird two weeks we've just been through with the fall of the stock market almost 800 points, the battle over the government bail-out, the bail-out itself and the stock market was as of the moment of this writing Oct. 6, 2008 loosing close to 700 points.

The CNN Money report leads on October 6, 2008 with this headline: DOW DOWN 700 POINTS. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Stocks tanked Monday, with the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq falling to nearly five-year lows as credit markets seized up and European governments' rush to prop up failing financial firms underscored the global reach of the credit crunch.

I have my own opinions on the bail-out but that really doesn't matter now. Personally I don't remember any senators calling me asking me for my opinion, although as an American citizen I did personally call my representatives in Washington D.C. and asked them to vote a certain way on the bail-out.

Just as we always hear the saying "it is what it is..." well, I say, "we're at where we're at..." so, what do we do? I have wondered about the state of our nation but in reality I think the better question is what is the state of our faith? To be honest, I have lost quite a bit in my retirement over the last few weeks as this economic crisis on Wall Street is hitting every one of us in one way or another. The markets didn't bounce back after the bail out like people thought they would, the world economic systems seem to be like a dominoe effect...and if we were honest we might all have to say that the economic outlook looks rather bleek for the next forseeable future.

As believers, we have to understand that God is not saying, "Oh no! I didn't see that one coming! Hey Jesus...what do you think we ought to do? Wall Street America is in a horrible mess." No....it's like the old song says He's got the whole world in His hands. We have to have faith in God and trust Him. That doesn't mean we don't make the decisions with our money that we feel that we ought to as good stewards to keep from loosing even more, but making those decisions also doesn't mean that we don't have faith in God.

I am a news and radio talk show junkie. But the news has been so depressing lately with the economy and election stuff that, on some days, I just don't listen or watch. It helps because I get God's perspective again that in a sense, this is the way it's going to be in the end times. Paul told Timothy that in the last days things would go from bad to worse (2 Timothy 3). Revelation tells us that eventually there will be a one world government and a one world economic system. Since that is the case, then the different economic systems of the individual countries will have to convert over to the one world system.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying this is the end of the world or that next month America will be using Rubles instead of Dollars. What I am saying is that as believers we have to have a different perspective on this thing. Because THIS world and THIS country is NOT our home! We're just passing through. It doesn't mean we have to like it or even that it doesn't make us a little tentative. I think as believers and good citizens of the greatest country on God's green earth that we should be involved in making our country the best that it can be. But listen....ultimately I'M OUTTA HERE! My long term plans really don't include trusting in ANY government for my security except the ONE who's government will be on HIS shoulders (Isaiah 9:6). That's why I can trust my JESUS as my Mighty Counselor and Mighty God.

Yes the world's economic system will be in chaos one of these days, maybe sooner than later? But if this is the start of it, it means I'm that much closer to my eternal home.

Just a thought,
Pastor Dan