FEAR NOT GOD IS WITH YOU
 
During the past several weeks, the United States of America has been shaken severely - commercial banks failing, investment banks failing, insurance companies failing - leaders faltering under the weight of a financial crisis that has sent fear rippling across the country from Wall Street to Main Street. 
 
On September 29, 2008, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped an historic 777 points in one day - the worst one day drop ever on the market index.  With an upcoming presidential and congressional election pending, the politicians are blaming each other for the fallout that has resulted from laws that were passed encouraging, and in some cases requiring, banks to lend money to people that simply did not have the capability to pay the money back long term.  Those failed policies began to erupt when these people began to default on their loans putting local banks and mortgage companies under pressure.  Then the securities that were backed by mortgages that were packaged together for investment purposes began to struggle when the loans began to sour.  In short, a domino effect that started with people being loaned money when they should not have been, has spread to local banks, regional banks, national banks, investment banks, securities firms, international banks, insurance companies, government agencies and has threatened to totally disrupt the American economy.  Many people are gripped with fear.
 
Luke 21:25-28
 
"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
 
Today we live in a time foretold by Jesus as recorded in Luke chapter 21.  Men's hearts are failing them for fear.  I have heard stories of men being hospitalized after suffering losses in the latest financial carnage, women selling their assets in the throes of the market downturn and people surrendering to fear rather than living by faith.  I am here to tell you that as Christians we should not give in to fear and those that sell it like snake oil.  If you make your decisions out of fear, then you are not living by faith. 
 
Please pay attention to me for one moment.  Intellectually, severe bear markets in which the major stock indexes lose 20% or more of their value have occurred thirteen times since the end of World War II - this bear market is not new, it is not different and it too shall pass.  However, in each of those 13 bear markets there were fear mongers preaching doom and gloom right up until the recovery has always come.  Earlier I told you that the DJIA dropped 777 points in one day - the worst one day drop in history.  What I did not mention was that decline was only a 7% one day decline, which is dwarfed by the 22% decline the market endured on Black Monday in 1987.  The markets have declined about 26% in the past 11 months, while the bear market of 2000-2002 was a 49% decline in the overall markets.  Intellectually, and most important factually - the current economic panic is not nearly as bad as we have seen it.  The point is that FEAR is what has gripped the world and though the world may shudder, Christians should not wilt with worry. 
 
Now, please pay attention to my next point.  Spiritually, the signs of these times should cue Christians to do as commanded by Jesus in Luke 21 - we should "look up" because our redemption draweth nigh.  Praise the Lord!  If you are spending more time listening to bad news, reading horrible newspaper reports and spreading fear, rather than praying, studying God's Word and looking up - please stop acting out of fear and start living by faith.
 
Christians have a lot of work to do in this world to fulfill Matthew 28:18-20.  If we allow ourselves to be moved by fear rather than faith, lost souls across the world will continue to suffer in bondage.  We must continue to do the work of the Lord, witnessing to the lost and caring for our fellowman.  Ministries do not accomplish God's work on passion alone, it takes money to reach the lost, feed the poor and care for the orphan.  If the devil can scare Christians into hiding their money under the mattress, he has dealt a severe blow to evangelism of the world. 
 
Rather than give place to the devil's fear, we need to "look up" and be ready for Jesus, be good stewards of our assets and do all we can to fulfill the Great Commission.  Just as God took care of the children of Israel when plagues befell Egypt, and delivered them from Pharaoh, He too shall take care of those who cling to Him.
 
Jason Rapert

 

 

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