.by Rev. Bob Johnson
Jesus once said, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places; all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs." (Matthew 24:6).
Each day I read a section of the Scriptures and this one happened to be a part of my reading this week. I meditated on it and thought about the world we live in. I wondered just what are the signs we are being given? What do you see and what does it mean to you? Once you've thought about these "signs" what impact might it have on our lives? Is there any at all?
Thinking about the signs and attempting to make application to my thinking and living I come away with some difficult feelings. War is always costly and since the terrorists entered the United States more than 3,000 people have lost their lives. We have gone from a nation with a $100 million surplus in the nation's coffers to a nation with a $200 million dollar deficit in one year. Have you ever asked yourself, as I have asked myself, just where does all this money come from? It's borrowed, and we as a nation pay interest to banks that lend the nation money!
Following the terrorists' terrible acts, other evils seemed to fly out of the bowels of our corporate life. Greed beyond my imagination, perhaps beyond yours, has surfaced and many who could ill afford the costs of this greed have had their lives turned upside down. People who believed they would have a steady job, a good retirement program, and other benefits of living in America have suddenly found themselves striped bare of all these assets. More than a few have begun to wonder just what the leaders, governmental and corporate, are thinking and doing on behalf of the people they are to serve. All this has increased distrust to the level that is affecting the very roots of our financial well-being as a nation. Perhaps you have been affected directly and watched your retirement disappear.
What is most glaring is that, almost without exception, some of our most basic understandings of morality and values have been transgressed. "Thou shall not steal" seems to be high in the list of broken commandments. Further, if we believe as most of the book of I John teaches us, that God is love, then, one has to wonder just who is it that we are answerable to. One could hardly love others and practice the kind of greed that seems to be newly uncovered almost weekly in the corporate world.
Now as the election dates comes ever closer, the problems seem to increase. Political ads seem bent on destroying the character of the opponent and the voter is left with little or no notion of the stand of candidates on a particular issue.
So where does this leave us? My belief is we need to do a much better job of teaching each other, our youth, and all those who would "run"our companies that honesty is the best policy and love of neighbor is a must. If this is not taught, I see us in a downward spiral that could bring an end to our lifestyle. I must admit I wonder what it is that will cause us to give birth to more in-depth thinking, which will lead to love of each other, and greater responsibility to each other.
So as I ask myself, I ask you, have you examined the character of the God you serve lately? Does it agree with what you find in Scripture? If not, perhaps you and I need to think again about basic life values. Take time in worship this Sunday to ask the Lord about your relationship with him and how that can improve.
Do you have a question or a statement? Send email to Pastor Bob Johnson at
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