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:
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:
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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This post was written by admin on February 17, 2009
This is very sound advice my friend.Like you, I saw enough signs of a false market that I got out as I felt to stay in a false market was gambling with what the Lord had given us to oversee.
Our stewardship with what the Lord has given to us is important. Just as our trust in Him with our finances that He will provide.
The only time the Lord tells us to test Him is in our finances. I know there is much controversy concerning this passage in Malachi 3
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the LORD of hosts,
“ If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.
11 “ And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes,
So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground,
Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”
Says the LORD of hosts;
12 And all nations will call you blessed,
For you will be a delightful land,”
Says the LORD of hosts.
The whole concept is trust, not give to gain, not that God needs our money, but trust and obedience. It is a act of worship as well. It is certainly not legalism.
The blessings of the covenants are still available to God’s people. While I never gave to get, I can look back over my life and testify that the Lord has kept His promises of providing for His people.
I found that this trust has a parallel with the trust we have when we accept Christ’s righteousness and forensic justification as our own.
After all, what does believing in Him really mean since as James tells us You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
If I place myself in the palm of His hand with my eternal life because I trust Him at His Word, then trusting him with my finances through biblical stewardship is just a active extension of that trust and then actually is a act of worship. It is not something that is done out of duty but with joy. It is not giving to get it is acknowledging that my provider provides and is a testament to that provision.
Anyhow, excellent topic for the day and I look forward to your future posts.
I will avoid the debate of the secondary issues of eschatology, but I believe this is a good time to ask your readers to put down the Left Behind series and the Late Great Planet Earth fiction novels and pick up the Bible and read what God tells us.
I am reading a good book that deals with a biblical treatment of AntiChrist, something that is a topic of the day as people are “looking for him”. Do you know what the bible really says about him? Do you understand the use of the term last days? I would suggest “The Man of Sin” by Kim Riddlebarger to take a walk through what the bible has to say about AntiChrist, the mark of the beast and compare it to contemporary lore born out of novels by Christians writers loosely based on scripture. It will give a good point of reference to discusss this topic with others.
In closing the one compliment I really pay you on this post is you addressing it from a clam demeanor standing on rock. Ronald Reagan used to use a city on the hill nalaogy when he spoke of America, but the church is to be the light in the midst of darkness reflecting the one who resides therein. If we are in a clamour in worry and fretting and running to and fro displaying fear, then how are we different than the world? Why would they look to us for counsel? In fact, it is at that point we would be the ones to pity.
Our Lord addressed this in Matthew 6. You must remember the time that He spoke these words also-He came at a time His people thought he was coming to topple the oppressive government who was taxing their socks off.
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
As God’s people we need to allow these words to be balm to our soul and comfort in a time of trouble, that the Lord He will provide, as He is the source of our provision,
We are to do our part, we are to be good stewards, use sound judgement, and walk in confidence that God is true to His Word and that we trust Him. In that we are working out our salvation and testifying to the world of His goodness, because of that trust.
Soli Deo Gloria
John