If Crocodile isn’t worried, neither am I

I was talking with some friends the other day and I mentioned to them that I thought conditions were right for our economy to develop into a “perfect storm”. I am genuinely concerned that we could see our economy slip beyond recession and into a depression. Lending institutions and private equity funds are in full crisis mode and reeling from the mortgage crisis, failing businesses, and bad loans. The stock market is facing a major crisis fueled by panicky investors. The value of the dollar worldwide is a disgrace fueled by a staggering national debt that is getting worse daily, largely because of idiot politicians who will promise anything for a vote. Speaking of politicians, if Obama gets elected and the balance in congress shifts slightly to allow the Democrats enough votes to avoid a filibuster, he will make good on his pledge to raise taxes to unprecedented levels on businesses and individuals, and increase government spending on social programs and give-away programs which will devastate our already faltering economy and increase our national debt even more; it will amount to throwing gas on a fire.

Speaking of gas, fuel prices are driving our economy to ruin with higher prices for just about everything, because fuel affects just about everything. Russia just invaded Georgia and in a matter of a few hours has confirmed its intent to return the world to a cold war status and has indeed promised to invade Poland if it accepts United States missiles for the missile defense project. Russia is second to Saudi Arabia in oil production and a major oil pipeline goes right through the heart of Georgia. I believe it is only a matter of time until Israel attacks the nuclear reactors in Iran. When that happens, aside from all out war breaking out in the Middle East which will disrupt worldwide oil supplies, Iran will no doubt block the world’s oil shipping route through the Straits of Hormuz where 40% of the world’s oil supply is transported and already high prices will go higher.

Hmmm Should we find another country in which to reside? Or maybe try to go to the moon, because the entire world will suffer from the global economy downturn and no country will be able to escape the turmoil? Should we panic and run for the hills? What we need to do is remember that God is in control and not mankind. We must have faith that things are transpiring according to plan and that He remains with us always, even until the end of time as He has promised. I don’t worry about the future. In fact I find it fascinating to read ancient prophecies that are being fulfilled before our very eyes. The Bible clearly predicted that the Jews would return to the Holy Land after being scattered all over the world for over 2000 years. In 1947 they did just that. The Bible predicts that Israel will be surrounded by enemies and that there will be wars and rumors of wars. It predicts that many people’s hearts will grow cold and that the world will become more and more evil and men will burn with lust with “unnatural” affections for other men and likewise for women similar to the days of Noah and Sodom. It states that we will enter a world of great learning and travel will be increased. It states that there will be famines and pestilence such as we see in Africa with AIDS and malaria. Reading biblical prophecy is like reading the newspaper.

Jesus told us not to worry because all of these things must happen. He told us to fear not and to remain steadfast in our faith. Several years ago I watched a Crocodile Dundee movie whereby a reporter was camping out with Crocodile deep in the outback jungles of Australia and they were sitting around a campfire. She was quite the intellectual and desired to spar with Dundee intellectually on all of the issues of the day. She asked Crocodile his opinion on nuclear proliferation and other profound issues of great import. He told her that he did not have one. This caused enormous disappointment to the reporter, and she exclaimed, “Well surely you have an opinion!” to which he calmly replied, “Who is going to hear it down here?” This scene has stuck with me for years. Crocodile had a good point. His opinion, his worry, his pontification will not change things one iota and in fact no one will even hear him opine on the subject, so why should he waste his breath. He preferred to enjoy his little piece of paradise and I’m sure preferred to listen to the jungle noises and enjoy the natural beauty of the outback far more than her yapping about issues for which he could not affect even if he wanted to.

Things will transpire as God ordains. Jesus addressed this worry issue one time and used the example of if we cannot even do such a simple thing as add even one inch to our height, why would we worry about the important things. He taught us that worry is a sin and no good will come from it, and it originates from satan the author of all sin. We should not commit it. We should have deep faith in God.

The Bible states that the world will continue to slide until Jesus comes back and we join Him and take on His glory forever. Until then we need to chill and not worry about things that we cannot affect. We can vote and we can do our small part to conserve energy etc. and we should do the things that we can control, but beyond that we should trust God. The world will hear God one day and the Bible assures us that every knee will bow before Him. We will not know peace in the world until Christ returns and sets up his thousand year reign and actually rules the world Himself. Until then, keep the faith and watch with interest as His plan for our salvation unfolds.

Psalms 23:27,6
All the ends of the world
Shall remember and turn to the
Lord
Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house
of the Lord
forever.