I knew major “Change” was coming in political and economic terms some time ago, and most recently made a major change in my own course in mid 2007. The stock market was at an all time high of 14,000 on the DOW for the first time, and all of the TV commentators were glassy eyed and talking about how DOW 15,000 was right around the corner. America had been on a huge drinking binge for some time, and was ready for more. The binge buying and selling went into overdrive during the war, which of course is never a good idea. So I changed course and sold. It was time to adjust according to the signs and prepare for a different world.
Over the years I have been through three flooded homes, a couple of hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and riots, similar to a lot of people to a greater or lesser degree. In my early years I was into backpacking and camping, and even spent a whole year living on a glacier in a remote station in Antarctica, so I have always been an advocate of “Emergency Preparedness” and planning for “Change”, both expected and unexpected change, and of course preparation for both good and bad change. I did just that back in 2007, and planned for “change”.
While preparing is second nature to me, I thought it might be time to discuss emergency preparedness with our readers. This is not an “end of the world” post, but a post about common sense and preparation for emergencies. Only the Lord knows what the stock market or your 401k or other savings will be like tomorrow, but the Word has certainly given us plenty of examples of preparation. Perhaps one of the most famous examples was the instruction by Joseph to Pharaoh to store food for seven years of plenty, in preparation for seven years of famine. The story begins with Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s dream as a message from God:
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26 The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27 And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.
(Genesis 41:25-31, KJV)
God has always been faithful in leading His people, and showing them both what is to come, and how to deal with it. The story continues, with Joseph counseling Pharaoh about this dream, and the instruction from God:
34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.
(Genesis 41:34-36, KJV)
America, and the entire world, has had a long period of abundance, combined with ample cheap fuel (oil) to build a robust society and infrastructure. At this point in time (February 2009), oil is cheap again, around $37 per barrel, but of course the economy is heavily in debt and on the verge of bankruptcy. When we combine the drunken stupor brought on by sub-prime loans and easy credit to the uncreditworty, with the massive spending on social engineering, it is easy to see how we got into this mess, and yes, it was easy to see this coming.
Part of the “Change” that has been decided upon is to inflate the currency as a way out of debt, which is always a dangerous path. This is *particularly* true when we try to boost the economy through social means and social engineering, as opposed to *real* engineering with tangible outcome. As with all government programs, this will cost us for generations to come. So here is an early warning message: the “stimulus” and “bailout” packages may make matters worse, and you should prepare for the possibility of further economic problems. We will all pray that things improve, but as a practical matter we should prepare, and save… While we are to trust in the Lord, He has also given us some solid wisdom through His Word, and as Christians we should act upon that wisdom found in the Bible.
So prepare yourself and your family by “saving” and preparing for emergencies. In America that “saving” word is almost heresy, where the populace is accustomed to running up consumer debt, housing debt, education debt, car debt… always a “good” reason of course, along with myriad bad reasons for debt, like entertainment, expensive vacations, gambling, smoking, etc.
Some of you have fallen into this mode of belief that the Lord will take you away in the rapture before anything remotely unpleasant will occur in your life. I am not going to launch into a doctrinal discussion of “pre-trib” or “post-trib” rapture. This site has a focus of unity in Christ through essential Christian doctrine, and “pre-trib” or “post-trib” interpretation of scripture is not an essential element of the faith. What I will say, however, is that those that are hoping for a “pre-trib” rapture to take you out of the world should at least be prepared for emergencies, wars, riots, and economic hardships that just might come along before your anticipated rapture. Just remember that “times can be tough” without the world entering into the “great tribulation”.
If you have not yet started saving and preparing for emergencies, then perhaps you should sit down with the family and discuss plans for the future. I will expand on this theme in the next few months, but for many of you, it is time for *you* to get started.
Yours in Christ,
Job
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