Over the weekend the Greeks voted “NO” on a bill that could have given them relief from a monstrous debt payment that they missed paying last week. A YES vote would have perhaps saved their ailing economy; however it would have meant that they would have continued to implement tough austerity measures in that beleaguered country. They refused further austerity by a resounding margin, basically thumbing their noses at their European creditors.
We always hear of “austerity” measures, but what does that mean? Few realize that the Greeks can retire at age 50; they work 30 hours per week; they have tremendous amounts of time off for sick time and to go on holiday; they have universal health care that is free for life; free education to anyone who wants it for life; and they draw pensions for life upon retirement.
Sounds like an ideal place to live eh? Before you pack your bags and immigrate to Greece, realize that there is one big problem, they cannot pay for it – not even by a longshot. So they have borrowed and borrowed and borrowed until their debt is so high that they have defaulted on their debt payments and consequently their credit rating is so low that they cannot borrow more. They have asked their creditors to bail them out and heretofore they have done so, provided they would take austerity measures to correct the problems listed above. Austerity in this instance means they must live within their means and take corrective action to do so.
The problem is the Greeks don’t want austerity; they want to continue living the good life. They voted overwhelmingly to refuse these conditions which would have meant a change to their lavish lifestyles and now the country is on the brink of meltdown.
As I’ve watched this drama unfold I am reminded of those in the world who refuse to give up their current lifestyles and turn to following Christ in order to reap His eternal blessings. They too are on the verge of a total meltdown.
I’m going to speak to a business group soon and I was asked to provide a main theme and a couple of verses that are meaningful to me for their group study session. My topic was that there is always HOPE in Jesus Christ. The first verse that I selected was Phil. 4:13 – “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” And the second was 2 Chron. 7:14 – “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.” Basically this is God’s promise of hope to a chaotic world and to us individually.
Many people will seek God in prayer during times of crisis, but for the “majority” the stumbling blocks of being humble and approaching God in all humility, and repenting and turning from a lifestyle that is deemed to be wicked by our Creator to one of righteousness seems to be insurmountable. The similarity to the Greeks who are rebellious and not willing to admit their mistakes, and don’t want to change their lifestyle regardless of the consequences is remarkable to me.
The consequence of refusing to allow God to heal us or our land because we remain rebellious and refuse to turn from our wicked ways is far more serious than what the Greeks face. We are not talking about merely throwing a nation into economic chaos and depression, but literally being separated from God for eternity.
Yes there is hope but it requires more than merely repeating some words in a Sinner’s Prayer. We must seek God in humility and prayer, admitting that we’ve made mistakes, (sinned) and we must humbly ask for forgiveness, and we must repent and turn from our wicked ways and follow Christ and all that is lovely and beautiful.
Jer. 5:23
Do you not fear Me?’ declares the LORD. ‘Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it. ‘But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed . . . And your sins have withheld good from you.
July 6, 2015 – Click here to listen