Can it be worse than 2011?

What is God doing?

Do we need to put our house in order?

The year of 2011 saw some amazing happenings around the world. The Arab Spring took us all by surprise. In Nation after Nation we saw the people in the streets rising up to overthrow their corrupt Governments and Dictators. While the world applauded the departures of the Mubarak’s and Gaddafi’s of this world, what will replace them is cause for concern. Already the likelyhood of Radical Islam with its Sharia Law has appeared. In the first round of balloting in Egypt, the Islamist took 71% of the vote, a stunning defeat for the secular pro-democracy activists. On December 17 th an Egyptian mob torched the “Institute of Egypt” in Cairo. The Institute contained 192000 rare books and manuscripts. It was set up and housed priceless chronicles of the Nation’s history and symbolised Egypt’s modernising and connection to the West. That’s why it had to go. The new regime in Egypt wants nothing of the west. Christians in Egypt are already under huge pressure and things are likely to get worse.

The year 2011 saw another phenomenon. The World Financial markets began to shake and totter. First in the United States and then beginning in Europe. The debt levels have risen to an unsustainable high and attempts to rectify this seem to be going nowhere. More pain and a possible economic collapse are looming. Any crash in one area will effect others and we in New Zealand will not be unaffected.

Last year saw too, a continuation of Natural disasters around the world. Earthquakes (we in this city know all about them), Floods, Famines, Typhoons. The world is becoming a less safe place to be. The Insurance Companies are on their knees. Another year of disasters like 2011 could possibly break the Insurance business. What is going on? Why? Can we do anything?

What of the future? Do we have a future?

I believe 2012 will be another hard year. The Middle East is like a tinderbox ready to burst into flame. Iran is threatening to close the Staights of Hormuz. The US has their 5^th Fleet ready to defend the Straights and the world oil supply and price. War seems almost inevitable. Iran is believed to be so close to producing a nuclear bomb. Too close for Israel’s comfort. An attack on Iran by Israel would seem to be the likely outcome. The consequence of that. Almost the whole Arab world could well rise up against Israel. This whole scenario would likely trigger further economic collapse and certainly change the face of the Middle East. Even without the Middle East the world economies or part of them, are likely to fall And what about continuing Natural Disasters around the Globe.? I believe we are close to Disaster fatigue. There has just been too much. We are in danger of not responding to our brothers' and sisters' calamities around the world.

The Arab Spring and riots in other parts of the world are a response to the continuing gap between the rich and the poor. The gap between the two continues to grow. We now have heads of big companies on $5 or even $10 million. The internet has given the poor, even in the likes of China and India information formally denied them. They now know how disadvantaged they are. A revolution is brewing not just in the Middle East. The whole world is clamouring for more of the pie. One of our Elders - Paul Young spoke at our Church Camp. Part of the world's problem is the advertising push to have what we don’t need. - Consumerism. This is breaking the Tenth Commandment. “Do not covet your neighbours goods.” There was a time when we saved to buy things we did need. Now we go out and buy what we don’t need and put it on the card. The US debt is $15,000,000,000,000. The faltering Greek Economy has a retirement age of 55 with a generous pension.!! We live beyond our means.

What about the future? We know that God is in charge of all things and we can trust Him to work it all out in the end. But we need to be responsible and put our own house in order. Concerning the distress among the nations, Jesus warned us that it would be so. I believe we are in the season of His Coming. If we are, then things will slowly get worse not better. The Good News is that Jesus is not far away. Keep our eyes on Him and stand firm in our Faith.