Wednesday, November 19, 2008

A Thought For Today 11/19/08

The economy has been going flat now for several months, and some might even say for a few years it has been headed downward. Has anyone ever stopped to ask "Why?" The answer to that question of "Why has the economy went downward?" is not the President of the United States; it is not because we are in the midst of two battles of war. These have probably not been much help for us.

Let's consider some insights from the prophet Jeremiah. It seems that the economy in this prophet's day was doing well, people were comfortable, and they were very much involved in the culture of the day. They believed in God, and they believed in other things as well. Their comfort, and riches, had come between them and the LORD God and His direction for their lives. The prophet Jeremiah is called by God to go to a rebellious people, and warn them of approaching danger.

The warnings have been plenty from the first chapter. What does the prophecy of Jeremiah have to do with the United States of America? The people of Judah and Israel proclaimed themselves to be "God's people". The USA has professed by the mouths of many citizens of this nation, "We are also God's people; we are a Christian nation." If we will so loudly proclaim that we are a Christian nation, then we must see that being a nation of God we must also receive the chastisement of God when we go astray.

Jeremiah has written,

"O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God." Jeremiah 5:3-4 (KJV)

With fires roaring, devouring homes, taking many man hours, and property; with the storms that have so often hit in various parts of this nation; doesn't it seem in the least that our merciful, loving and gracious God could be warning us to awake, believe and change our lives.

The LORD's eyes are upon the truth. The poorest of the poor are those people who may have everything materially yet have not the faith of Jesus Christ, God's only Son. Own the world without the grace of God, in the faith of Christ and you have nothing of eternal value. You basically have nothing of God-value. You can know the stockmarket inside and out; you could know the Encyclopaedia Britannica by memory; and you could know the Bible word for word; not knowing God, you would still be poor, and without knowledge of God or His way

Why are these things happening and to both Christian and non-christian? Only God knows the real answer to that, but I think we must consider the possibility that God's people, the Christians have not been the citizens of the USA for Christ that we should have been. Christian people are growing more ignorant about the ways of God; or are wanting to be more "Politically correct", and "Culturally relevant".

-Tim A. Blankenship

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