As you read Genesis 11:1-4 reflect upon where the world is headed right now. Calls for globalization abound. You can find comments from global minded individuals everywhere such as "Globalisation is not an option, it is a fact, so the question is whether we manage it well or badly."1

Gen 11:1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech.
Gen 11:2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.
Gen 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
Gen 11:4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

A global recession, depression, melt-down, call it what you will is striking fear into the hearts of people around the world. People are opining about the loss of their retirement funds. People are in debt way over their heads. Corruption and greed can be found everywhere from Wall Street to Washington DC to Main Street. Why? Why this abject fear? They've replaced the one true God with a god of their making....money.

For eons people's greed has sucked them into traps due to their love of money and the lure of easy money. Part of this financial melt-down is apparently due to people who could no longer make their mortgage. They would get "no-interest" loans on a house they could not afford in the hopes of a quick resale to make a profit. Or, they were getting loans on houses they couldn't afford. Either way, the lure of luxury or easy money clouded their judgment.

Mar 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Think for a minute about the story of Jesus and the rich man:

Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Mat 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The rich young man, although reportedly having followed the law, had difficulty with one main one...he had replaced God with money thus his reaction to Christ's directive. When Christ said "give away all your stuff" he walked away sad. Jesus knew the young man's heart and knew he loved money more than God. This is further clarified here:

Mat 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

In this passage the word "mammon" is wealth:

G3126
μαμμωνᾶς
mammōnas
mam-mo-nas'
Of Chaldee origin (confidence, that is, figuratively wealth, personified); mammonas, that is, avarice (deified): - mammon.

Do these passages mean if you are rich you are destined for hell? Not at all...money is not the root of all evil:

1Ti 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

It's the LOVE of money that is the root of all evil.

My point is this, due to people having replace God with money, their faith in these uncertain economic times is rattled to the core. The things they have garnered, gained, earned, worked for, slaved for and slipping through their fingers like a handful of sand.

Further when you combine the foundation of their faith being shaken with a eloquent deceiver sitting in the office of the most powerful position in the world who is bent on further a liberal/socialist agenda you have a mixture similar to nitroglycerin.

Scripture makes clear that in the end times:

Mat 24:24 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.

2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

I know what you're thinking..."He's saying the POTUS is the antichrist". Actually, no, I'm not. Although that makes for any interesting discussion, I don't believe we will know who he is. My point is that the POTUS is starting the call for sweeping changes to the United States that take it from a Constitutional Republic to a Socialist government and the economy and people's love of money is the vehicle is which he is using. It's setting the stage for the globalization of the world's economy as the leaders in other free societies (i.e. the UK) are also calling for the universal revamping of the financial world to pull the world out of this recession.

If the cards that are being dealt right now are played as it appears they will be we could see something along the lines of Genesis 11:1-4 all over again.

So what do we as Christians do? I would recommend a couple of things. First, live the best way you can and be a continual witness. Use this time to talk about your faith. What's that? You're caught up in it too? Give it to God, it's all His anyways, work to get out of the debt you are in as a testimony to a right focus while in the world.

Next, I would say prepare for the worse. If Christ comes soon then all is good, but if it's not His time yet what then? Prepare. Have a store of food, water, supplies etc in the event we have to weather the storm until He comes. Nowhere in Scripture does it say that life will be rosy and then Christ will come. Seems to me that it's going to continually get worse until He returns...and then get even worse for those here on earth. Plus think of what a blessing it could be. Let's say you have a year's worth of supplies stored up and the rapture happens...don't you think God will use that for His glory and assist a new believer during the tribulation? Isn't it possible He could lead someone to your cache of goods who is in desparate need?

I say this not to sound like some apocalyptic nut-job but rather as a call to reason. Noah was told to build a boat and prepare for what was coming. He was laughed at an ridiculed...yet the rain came. We know in no uncertain terms that we can recognize the time and season of His return, just not the day and the hour. Look around...He's coming...my guess is sooner rather than later...

Christian...go build your boat! It may not be meant for you to actually use...it may be for a brother or sister in Christ during what is to come.

Times Online, Gordon Brown,http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article5821821.ece

{mxc}

Tags: faith | false idols | judgment | mammon | money | world