Weeks 03 & 04 (09) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

On 28th Jan. 2009, the World Econmic Forum started the 5 day event as usual in Davos. The theme this time is unsurprisingly "Committed to Improve The State of The World". There used to be something symbolic in Davos, all those movers and shakers going to the Swiss mountains to talk about capitalism being on top. Although Davos is still Davos, but not as we know it. The schmoozefest has turned into a gloomfest. Nearly all the business leaders and politicians here are using the word gloom again and again. No wonder the swagger of bankers and hedge fund managers is gone. In fact, it is difficult to find bankers here. Most of Wall Street's top bosses have decided to stay in New York in their offices. The people that have come to Davos fall into two categories: they are either humbled or deeply concerned.

Kenneth Rogoff, a professor at Harvard University and former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund comments that there needs to be "very dramatic, forceful action" to help fix the global economy.

In his keynote address, President Putin describes the global economic crisis as "the perfect storm" and called on the world to avoid sliding into isolationism or "economic selfishness". "Regardless of their political or economic system, all nations have found themselves in the same boat," he says. Mr Putin also argues that the world needs a range of reserve currencies and more policy openness in the countries which issue them. Countries should try to avoid the "blind belief" that the state can solve all problems, he adds.

Definitely, as we move closer to the End-time, we will see greater co-operation among the nations in the world economy and world peace, esp. in the Middle East. These will be key indicators to watch.

Despite of the gloom surrounding the world, be sure to know that "Blessed is the man who....delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." [Ps. 1:1-6 NIV]

Saul was anointed by God with great power in the beginning. When Jabesh Gilead in Israel was besieged by the Ammonite who would only make a treaty "on the condition that I gouge out the right eye of every one of you and so bring disgrace on all Israel."......When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he burned with anger. He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent the pieces by messengers throughout Israel, proclaiming, "This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not follow Saul and Samuel." Then the terror of the LORD fell on the people, and they turned out as one man. When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the men of Israel numbered three hundred thousand and the men of Judah thirty thousand......The next day Saul separated his men into three divisions; during the last watch of the night they broke into the camp of the Ammonites and slaughtered them until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together" [1 Sam. 1,2,6-11 NIV]. But when Saul did not walk with the Lord later, the Lord rejected him as king! Yes, God cannot be unfaithful to His Word.

Although the indicators do provide hints of the End-time, "No-one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man........"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come " [Matt 24:36-51 NIV]. The important thing to do is to live each day as if the Lord is coming back on that day!

"Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?....I raise my voice to all mankind........My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.......Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies........To fear the LORD is to hate evil......By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just.....I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. With me are riches and honour, enduring wealth and prosperity. [Prov 8:1-18 NIV] Thus says the Lord. Let us heed His Word.

Amen!