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Turmoil in the Oikoumene
Agricultural production which could supply ample nourishment for the world’s exploding population is being threatened by several factors, primarily skyrocketing energy costs. Countrywide demonstrations targeting inflation and the lack of basic foodstuffs, as happened in Egypt recently, are spreading. Natural calamities such as earthquakes, floods, droughts, tornadoes and cyclones, partially resulting from the green-house effect, are daily occurrences. Sicknesses and diseases are debilitating vast pockets of populations worldwide: aids, malaria, TB, alongside maladies carried by animals and birds. And worst of all, these disasters happen with extraordinary frequency and intensity. While we go into our kitchens for a breakfast of whatever is to our liking, in areas of Africa some of our desperate fellow humans wake up to another day of hunger. Believe it or not, they mix mud with a little cooking oil which they swallow with great difficulty. Soon pain cramps their craving stomachs. Scandalously, executives of great companies and those involved in the weapons trade pile up multiple millions for their own gratification. In the midst of such selfish and deplorable practices governments are putting forth great efforts to carry on their respective routines. Drugs are skillfully pushed, and many fall victim to this merciless killer. Terror attacks, trafficking of women and children, increasingly violent crimes even in homes and schools, wanton waste of resources in our throw-away societies, and most of all, proliferating wars, swell this repugnant list. Such are the merciless onslaughts on both humans and animals. The shaking world economy follows a precarious trend. Governments are burdened with a heavy load of debt; so are families and individuals. If any money has been saved, it is becoming less valuable by the day. In retrospect, quite dissimilar conditions come to mind from the distant past. In the Middle Ages, there was a protracted period of six hundred years when purchasing prices were continually decreasing. Also, during the Industrial Revolution, people enjoyed an unprecedented ebb in market values resulting in enhanced living standards. During the dark days of the twentieth century mankind was forced into two calamitous world wars. The bloody war machine swallowed astronomical funds, devastated cities and countries, affected moral-ethical norms and worst of all, stamped out uncountable human lives. For a moment our memories carry us back to the ancient ages, as a matter of fact to the patriarchal epoch. In the days of Joseph, Egypt and the surrounding countries were spared from starvation and annihilation. Had the sovereign God not raised up this ingenious Hebrew slave, vast numbers would have starved to death. Today governments and highly-equipped aid agencies try every means to encounter global famine, outbreak of infectious diseases, worldwide inflation and intensifying natural disasters. The transport of aid to areas struck by catastrophe is in some cases almost impossible. Nevertheless, God, whose sovereignty we acknowledge, has his own agenda for our planet enwrapped by peril. From ages past he is the only crisis manager. We can trust in his unfailing compassion and prowess, as well as total ability, to meet the needs of people caught in hopeless desolation and devastation. Does anyone care to
consider what Jesus Christ foretold in the Scriptures?
Those who study the eschatological discourses of God’s Son
(cf. Matthew 24; Mark 13; Luke 21),
can clearly see how the master of the universe is warning everyone who may wish
to give ear to the truth from his unerring lips.
The prevailing sad conditions affect each and everyone: wars, military
conflicts, natural disasters, world-wide famine, epidemics, and speedily-eroding
climactic conditions. To cap it
all, there is an alarming decline in moral-ethical values.
Considering these realities, one can understand Christ’s ominous
forewarnings. The perilous onslaughts on
humans and animals are incalculable.
Burgeoning wars are the predominant menace.
In studying the terrifying signs we see that the bulk of disasters
emanate from man himself, i.e., oppressive rule, trafficking in humans, greed,
waste, selfishness, arrogance, etc.
All these come from within the depraved heart which fails to maintain a healthy
relationship with his Maker and his fellow-creatures. Animal species are
vanishing from the face of the earth.
It is estimated that their extinction has accelerated more over the last
thirty-five years than in the whole of previous history. To reiterate, the cause
of this grievous development is none other than man himself. People attempting
to analyze the daunting aspects of world-wide crisis fail to perceive its
spiritual nature, not realizing that the blemish within man is the root of
global peril. Production of bio fuels is
only one indication of greedy and self-motivated human conduct.
Hundreds of millions wrestle with starvation while advanced technology
produces fuel from corn and other crops.
Is this scandalous venture going to continue in spite of the many
protests? Furthermore, is this eager effort going to solve the quandary of
depleting energy sources? When will
governments stop being wasteful and prodigious?
How will they combat the beast of corruption which stretches its
tentacles into every conceivable realm?
When will men and women in more affluent societies make the urgent plight
of the hungry their own personal concern? When will people who are sated and
scandalously wasteful be intelligently involved in helping feed their needy
fellow humans, near or far? The sight of a single hungry child and his mother
with eyes pleading for a morsel of food breaks the heart of compassionate folks
who are looking for ways to help bridge the gap between the haves and the
have-nots. When will countries such as Zimbabwe, Myanmar, North Korea and sharia-governed Sudan be struck to their soul for the inhumane treatment of their populations? When will merciless creatures eager to maim and kill abandon their bent to destroy and that in the name of religion? Such repulsive behavior is intensifying cosmic turmoil and torment. Mankind’s problem is as much spiritual as physical or material. In the meantime, the awful menace of inflation with skyrocketing prices everywhere is shaking the equilibrium of world economics. The rapid rise of oil and food prices is causing a chain reaction which affects every area of existence including the complete spectrum of money and commodity markets. This phenomenon foretold in the prophetic word encompasses the whole globe.
“And
I heard what sounded like a voice from the midst of the living creatures, which
said, ‘A whole day’s wage for a quart of flour, a whole day’s wage for three
quarts of barley-meal! But spare
the olive and the vine.’”(Revelation 6:6 NEB)
The
reality of this astonishing and disturbing foreknowledge grasps our attention
during these times of emergency.
Daily we are exposed to numerous statements and prognostications about what lies
ahead. But we have yet to hear any
reference to this far-reaching prophecy from the God of all truth.
Perhaps this is expecting too much!
Speculations about the days ahead are constantly being put forward, but
no one is capable of predicting the outcome of the crisis in which we are
caught. In the meantime, fresh consequences of the quandary engulf every area of
human life and existence. Dismal
developments are unfolding before our eyes.
Perhaps some enlightened, courageous commentator, at the risk of being
laughed at, will come forward and make a connection between what is happening
now and what was foretold a long time ago in the Bible.
The final laugh belongs to God.
Thomas Cosmades
cosmades@gmx.net
www.sporeas.com
www.sporeas.gr
www.sporeas.eu
Έδρα:Melbourne-Australia
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