Perfect Storm
by Randall Worley (Marketplace Ministry)
THE MELTDOWN OF FINANCIAL MARKETS AND POLITICAL UPHEAVAL IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS ARE THE MAKINGS OF A PERFECT STORM. THE UNPRECEDENTED LOSSES IN THE MARKET IS CAUSING MEN TO LOSE THEIR MINDS. FEAR LIKE A HIGHLY INFECTIOUS DISEASE IS AIRBORNE........................... HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
The phrase perfect storm" describes the simultaneous occurrence of weather events that create a potentially devasting storm. It happens when three different systems converge at the same time. Warm air from a low pressure system coming from one direction, a flow of cool and dry air generated by a high pressure from another direction, and tropical moisture from another. The convergence of all at the same time are not rare but unusual.
In the last few weeks we have without question been witnessing the convergence of several systems that have created an unprecendented storm. The melt down of the financial markets, contention in the presidential race, and the ongoing threat of terrorism are thundering this truth. Though written thousands of years ago the words of Psalms 107:23-27 could not be more relevant than they are now.
"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are their wits' end."
The sea in scripture is a type of the restless masses of humanity and wicked nations."The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." (Isa. 57:20) Revelation 17:15 "And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations and tongues." The "great waters and business" speak of the world economy. The instability and unpredictablity of water reflects the nature of man and the business of man. For years we have been intoxicated by prosperity and now we are waking up with a hangover that has brought us to our wits end. The brightest financial minds are troubled and groping for answers. A friend of mine made a statement years ago that seemed to me at the time to be a paradox. He said that "God had been judging America with prosperity." How could prosperity be a judgment? I think I understand now what he meant given the present state of our ecomomy. The insecurity felt by many in these tumultous times has revealed to us what we have really been secure in. Ironically the investments or what we call securities are best tenous. Psalms 62:10 "Trust not in oppression, and become not vain in robbery: if riches increase, set not your heart upon them." Psalms 118:8-9 "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes. " Our confidence in fund managers and politicians reflects our trust in the illusion of solvency created by man rather than in the sovereignty of God. We must continue to remind ourselves as we are reeling "to and fro" that God is sovereign. That is that He rules over all, in all, and through all.
Do we need a "bail out" or a breakthrough? Often in scripture you find God delivering His people "in" the situation rather than delivering them "out" of their dilemma. The Lord is more interested in what we get out of going through crisis than always getting us out of it. I have talked to several people in the last few weeks that are in a crisis of their own making as well as many that are struggling eventhough they have made prudent financial decisons. In the days ahead no one will be immune from financial challenges. How do we navigate through the deep and treacherous waters ahead?
On more than one occasion Jesus deliberately took His disciples into situations that he knew would become stormy to test their faith and trust. Mark 4:35-40 describes such a storm. "And the same day, when even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. And when they sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him little ships. And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? I will not attempt to give an exhaustive treatment of this passage but to deal with the parallels to where we are today. Jesus had just completed teaching an extensive parable on the sower and the seed. The seed which is the word of God is sown into different types of soil or mens hearts that vary in condition. The power of the seed is never in question. Jesus insistence on "passing over" to the other side of the Sea of Galilee was not just a whim. He only said what He heard the Father say and He only did what He saw the Father do. This was a transitional moment.
Every major transition in scripture seems to involve passing through water. Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea. Joshua led Israel through the Jordan River. Elisha had to cross over the Jordan to receive the mantle of Elijah. And here the disciples are crossing the Sea of Galilee with a storm looming that would test their faith. Peter, James, and John who were seasoned sailors had never witnessed a storm of this magnitude or intensity. This body of water was infamous for storms that would come out of nowhere, and they had survived many of them in the past. This one however would bring them to their wits end. The violent upheavel of the waves was casting them up to a crest and then down into a trough. Much like the extreme swings going on in our markets. Not only was the structural integrity of the ship disintegrating but to make matters worse it was brimming with water. Surely it is not difficult to see that we too are in storm in which the waves of financial fear are casting us about and threatening our demise. Acts 14:22 says "that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God." The kingdoms of this world are violently shaking giving way to a kingdom that cannot be shaken Hebrews 12:26-28. The most extraordinary thing about this crisis was that Jesus was sleeping through it. While the disciples were seized with fear the Lord was sleeping. The howling wind and convulsing waves had so captured their psyche that they had forgotten that He was with them. How could the Lord sleep through such choas? The answer is simply that His internal reality superceded His external circumstances. The implication of the verse is that to wake Him up the disciples violently shook Him and said Master which means teacher "Carest thou not that we perish!!" How often do we misinterpret the Lords attitude toward our trials? When He seems unresponsive to us we assume He is indifferent. Only when we trust His ultimate intentions we can endure the intensity of circumstances.
His response to their panic was to manifest peace. Peace is not the absence of problems. Our perception determines whether we panic or remain in peace. It has been said "when we change the way we see things, the things we see will begin to change." I believe that the financial storm that we are in right now as a country will cause believers to awaken the Lord of the storms that is within us. The disciples had forgotten the last words that Jesus had spoken to them before going to sleep; "Let us pass over unto the other side." Panic is not an option for us. Staying focused on passing over or transtioning into greater levels of trust in Him is our only option. The illusion of security the world gives is just that, an illusion. A peace that passes understanding is our inheritance. In John 14 Jesus told the diciples that He was leaving them a peace that was unlike any illusion of peace that the world could give.
ORDER THE CD. TITLED..... "PERFECT STORM" FROM OUR STORE!!!!
by David Mims
December 6th, 2008 (09:12)