Reflections for the moment#14 The new Babylon(21May09)

Dear…

'Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God…..But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him…..'

1 Corinthians 2:12-14

If I were to tell you that in the next two to three years, at the rate the governments are debasing the value of their currencies, through excessive quantitative easing, or in layman's terms, printing of paper currencies, backed only by their eroding credibility, the monies that you squirrelled away, be it in the bank or at home would be worth half of what it is today, what would your reaction be?

'….Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.'
Galatians 5:16

The response would likely be one that is based upon your own understanding, your sense of future trends, hearsay from others and the credibility of the chap who just raised this possibility with you.

But it is likely that even those who are most cynical of this scenario would not totally banish the possibility from their innermost thoughts.

'….Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit…'

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

What about the key tenet of Christianity? That man are sinners, that God has made us clean by His grace and not by our works, our past sins are forgiven by the sacrifice of His beloved only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ and that death no longer has a hold upon us, with the risen Christ.

If a seemingly free lunch seems too incredulous to be believed, what about the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ that he will return to Earth and all will be judged?

Without the Spirit of God in us, none of us will be able to comprehend.

'Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.'
Isaiah 45:22

Much of the world is still cynical about the sustainability of the present more bullish stockmarkets, but if history is any guide, reignited greed and fear of missing out will eventually supercede common sense, and prices could rise higher and longer than most might reasonably expect. In the 1970s, after two horrendous years(late 1973 to 1975) of bear markets from the aftermath of the Vietnam war and the Arab oil embargo of 1973, the major stock indices recovered most of its losses in a very strong run up for a year plus to 1977, before the marauding bulls, whose overweight body were strutting on tiny legs of weak fundamentals, slipped badly on an oil slick created by the Iranian revolution(in 1979) as well as the Iran Iraq war(from 1980), to be drowned in a sea of high inflation,compounded by fiscal and monetary ill discipline amongst the Western Governments. Is this déjà vu?

'Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.'

Hebrews 11:3

Man is finite, but God is Sovereign, and we know not His ways. And will history repeat itself?

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ." Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.'

Philippians 3:17-19

I know not, but clearly, men are making the same mistakes. Deceit, greed, pride, selfishness, unrepentance continues to make its rounds and the recovery in financial asset prices today is not just a hollow recovery(ie economic fundamentals will not be able to match the pace of financial exuberance), but the means to bring us back from the brink of our past follies are far from hallowed, for debasing one's purchasing power, beggar thy neighbour policies and mucking around with ethical or rather accounting standards, is men's sinful ways, not God's way.

'For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before…'

Matthew 24:24-25

Are all these elements leading us to the beginnings of a New Babylon? Not just a new world financial system to replace the present much maligned capitalist model, but a totally new world order, whose impact are not fully fathomable as yet, but clearly if the present is a foretaste of what will be, rightly unsettling it will be for all who depend upon their or other men's finite understanding.

Postulations one can indulge in till one's heart content. Would it be better not to do what is within our finite abilities?

Which is,

"We need to ask ourselves whether the testimony of our lives is worthy of the Lord?'
"How will the unreached people see that testimony if there is no Christian willing to leave their "safe houses" and live in their midst?"

(Ross Paterson, Antioch Missions)

'And take heed to yourselves…..Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man…'

Luke 21:34-36

Good times are back, if one measure good as in perceived recovery of asset prices. Yet, this would be even more troubling times, for the devil will take joy in swaying our emotions, giving all whose pursuits are his delusions, a great sense of discontentment and disconcertedness, for most will continue to miss most of the price appreciations, and even more might end up on the wrong side many times over, as prices will gyrate in ways beyond men's understanding.

'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you.'
Acts 3:6

Are we like the blind man who expected the Apostle Peter to give him alms, but was surprised yet greatly gratified when he was, by the blessed name of our Lord Jesus Christ, given sight.

Many of us continue to look for that great foresight that will help us garner even greater material wealth, but what truly matters is to have the blindness in our hearts lifted, that we may "see" God's wonderful presence in our lives, to experience that Inner peace and joy, to have our character refined in the likeness of Christ.

This is no longer a question of getting our perspective right, but rather, our Lord Jesus Christ must be the Rock upon which we can and must lean upon in the brave new and unfathomable world that all of us have entered.

'From henceforth let no man trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus'
Galatians 6:17

God Blesses

Eng Hieang
(21st May 2009)