Is "Doom and Gloom" or "Abundant Life and Blessing" in your Future?

 Psalm 46:2-7  (Amplified Bible)

2 - Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains be shaken into the midst of the seas,   3 - Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling and tumult. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!   4 - There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High.   5 - God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early [at the dawn of the morning].  6 - The nations raged, the kingdoms tottered and were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.  7 - The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our Refuge (our Fortress and High Tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

I regularly receive an email from someone wanting me to view a video or article on how bad things are in the world and how we are facing great danger.  The frequency "doom and gloom" posts have escalated in recent months and I am being asked to comment on some conspiracy theory, or prediction of great impending doom.

Now I am not disputing the the fact that the USA and the rest of the world is facing some major challenges.  But consider for a moment, has there ever been a time in history when the world has been a perfect place.  Every century has had it's moments of calamity, disasters and wars.   Christians are particularly vulnerable because of our understanding or lack thereof, of the "end times" mentioned in the Word of God.   Many have  built whole ministries around end time prophecy.  But Jesus actually told us "take no thought for tomorrow" Matt 6:25  and "occupy till I come"  Luke 19:12-19

I remember back in the 60's and 70's, how many preachers were preaching about the soon return of Jesus and how wars, earthquakes, extreme weather,  were an indication that the second coming would happen in the next few years.  

There is a real danger in misinterpreting end time prophecy.  There are "end time" preachers who avidly believed that Jesus was coming soon, who have preached the message for 30 or 40 years of their ministry, and are now dead and buried, but life is still going on. The only problem is, thousands were influenced by their teachings and missed God's plan for their lives.  We have a great responsibility in spreading God's word and to "speak every man truth with his neighbour:" Eph 4:25

The fact is Jesus could come back tomorrow but He may only come back in 20, 30 or 100 years from now.  Who knows.    Jesus said "But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father"  

Matthew 24:33-36  (AMP)    33 - So also when you see these signs, [a]all taken together, coming to pass, you may know [b]of a surety that He is near, at the very doors.   34 - Truly I tell you, this generation ([c]the whole multitude of people living at the same time, [d]in a definite, [e]given period) will not pass away till all these things [f]taken together take place.  35 - [g]Sky and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.  36 - But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Don't get caught up in all the doom and gloom theories that are flying about these days.   If you take a close look, you will usually find, there is a book, DVD or some product for sale.  The article/video is designed to stir emotions and thus generate business.  

Towards the middle of 1998, I published to my web site a section on Y2K.  Read Article  My comments were "Non event, Hype and a money making opportunity."  I said "During the first week of Jan. 2000, a lot of "Feed the Hungry Ministries" would be birthed." 

 

Well, January 1, 2000 came and went with no sign of the dreaded bug.  What was all the hype about.   One answer . . .   Money!!!!    Money fueled the Y2K bug theory.   I believe many pastors and leaders were sincere in their efforts to warn their congregations, but  they were caught up in the hype of the Y2K bug info being divulged all over the globe.  People began to purchase survival supplies and purchased electricity generators. 

A lot of money was made by churches, ministries and secular corporations.  Fortunes were spent on supplies and bug fixes, sadly, most was not necessary.   For example, we were told that most desktop PC's would fail unless they were upgraded with BIOS fixes and other software upgrades.   Well all of my computers were working on January 1st, including a six year old computer and software.  Sadly, I met a number of people over the next 5 to 6 years who still had lots of Y2K rations stacked in a cupboard or box somewhere in an attic or garage. ( Read the follow-up  article I published the first week of January 2000)

We are not to put our heads in the sand and live in denial.  But we need to learn to trust the Holy Spirit, our comforter, teacher and guide to lead us and warn us if necessary.   Every year brings new challenges and opportunities.   But God has a plan and His plan will be fulfilled if we trust Him.   

Let's focus on this ... 

Ps 37:25  "I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. "(KJV)     

Ps 23:1   "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. "(KJV)   

Matt 6:25-26   "Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  26    Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? "(KJV)