Without God in the World
By: Jim Josephsen


As never before, all around the world, within every nation, people are suffering, distressed, becoming increasingly anxious, openly concerned; “just what on earth is going on.” The news from Europe, India, Asia, not to mention the United States, Australia South America is alarming, disheartening.

Relentlessly, we witness an economic picture, portraying global recession. The National Bureau of Economic Research as officially declared the United States of America has been in a recession since December 2007. Surprise! Germany has admitted, its economy is in a recession. The economic powerhouse of the 21st Century, China has seen its production diminish seemingly unstoppable. Worldwide demand has taken a dive, only further slowing multi-national economies. Bonds, foreign markets, the price of oil continually fall with no end in sight.

If the economic stresses over the past 12 months weren’t painful enough, what lies on the horizon is life threatening, possibly considered terminal to societies, civility as we’ve known it. Certainly, the decrease of gas prices at the pump, of housing fuels, clothing and general consumer goods is seen as a welcome relief to a weary American and the global consumer. Not so welcoming to the businessman!

Foolishly, American business greed is luring Americans into greater debt with the approach of the annual Christmas holiday. “Buy now with whatever little credit you have left. Certainly you can’t pass up our deep discounts,” is the message retailers are sending.

But if this economic slow-down continues, not only in the USA but among all the Western democracies, and becomes ever more widespread, the only logical consequence will be deflation that will spiral to ruinous depths, evoking catastrophic ends. Every nation will be affected.

Ironically, third world nations have little to lose and will feel less affected. Nation, blessed with wealth beyond measure will not be able to cope in a global meltdown. In horror, the reality will be death is a welcomed relief.

An aspect of sea travel, entertainment, commerce and trade once far out of mind of the average global- citizen is now constantly in the news, with consternation. What is this new type of disruption and terrorism we are witness to now in the 21st Century – pirates? Roughly 100 attacks on ships off the Somali coast this year alone, with 40 vessels being hijacked and held for ransom, most of the time the ransom being paid.

Our minds reel in horror at the latest terrorist attack perpetrated this time targeting the symbol of India’s wealth and power, Mumbai. It was clear this well orchestrated, executed with military-like precision, targeted attack sent a message to India, Israel and the West, primarily, Great Britain and the United States.

Now it comes as no surprise but a bipartisan commission has released its study warning America’s leadership that the United States can expect a terrorist attack using nuclear or more likely biochemical weapons before 2013. This news is of little comfort.

The report expressed the concern not that terrorists become biologist rather that “biologists will become terrorists.” With the influx of foreigners, foreign nationals being educated and working within the United States, it is not hard to see how those loyal to their mother-land or father’s religion could easily rise up as terrorist within the country, traveling freely within this nation.

Further, it is not hard to conceptualize home-grown terrorists striking within the United States when you consider our over-anxious, misguided and morally deficient, parentless youth ever more engaged in destructive, rebellious, evil behaviors. America long ago opening its doors in the ultimate expression of democracy and freedom only to allow and often protect the corrupt and nefarious to walk within its shores

All the inhabitants of the earth to one degree or another are increasingly effected by and overtly aware of the burdens this 21st Century presents. Whether the consequence of, the product of detrimental and pernicious personal and cultural life styles, or the direct result of government-induced mismanagement, of business and economic failures, the burdens and encumbrances people face these days are accelerating with reckless abandon. Every nation across the face of this earth is affected, influenced and challenged. The past year has brought a radical change to the perceptions of life, government, wealth.

The shift, especially within the Western Democracies, from once honored ethical principles, moral absolutes, and religious reverence to an unbridled practice of personal self-fulfillment, empowerment and situation ethics challenges the very foundations of good and wholesome societies.

Those who call evil good and good evil are set for certain doom and destruction. Not only is this principle practiced among the average Joe among the streets, but those who practice the religion of Christianity are quick to call the Laws of God evil; certainly not of valve to keep.

Just what on earth is going on? Where are we headed? Will we ever get back to normal? These are the cries of nations.

Within the United States, Britain, Australia, Europe, and among the vast expanse of peoples who compose this newly labeled global community of mankind, people are anxious, uncertain, gingerly navigating through the demands and new burdens foisted upon them.

The problems this world faces have no relevance without God in the world. Without an acceptance, that God is the Judge of all mankind’s behavior and He will answer mankind according to its ways, these problems are without solutions. He knows how it will all end. What we are witnessing today are the consequences of disobedience and rejection of the only God worthy to be worshipped.

Having spoken to His disciples of events to occur in the end time, the prophetic last days, just prior to His return, Jesus Christ told his disciples and the crowd gathered around him, “Watch you therefore and pray always, that you might be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The elements which compose these things of which Jesus Christ said will happen to this world, are ominous and apocalyptic. Speaking of these things, Christ said, “for these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written (in prophecy implied) may be fulfilled.”

What we are now seeing is the beginnings of perilous times, of tribulation, of judgment. What we are now witnessing, watching every day is the commencement of activities, which were revealed to us by God’s prophets, as they wrote under His inspiration of events to occur in this generation, our time.

We witness every day the consequences of mankind living without God in their lives; without an awareness of the God who created them and sustains the world on which they live. We witness the consequences of personal choices and personal behaviors which confess blatantly disrespect for God.

The times ahead are characterized “as if a man did flee from a lion and a bear met him; or went into his house and leaned his hand on the wall and a serpent bit him.”

The news events each day witness greater anguish. The burdens you face at each sunrise reveal a world of uncertainty, a life of ambiguity. Jesus Christ declared, Watch.

How can you escape that opportunity?

Short of having your head in the sand, it is easy to see the degrading social conditions, the blatant disrespect for God, the consequences of disobedience to God’s laws of life and fiscal success. The days of vengeance are upon us as prophecy is being fulfilled. In this world which has rejected God, this world without God, the only hope you have to survive the calamities ahead is to do what Jesus Christ requires of you. Watch and pray. Oh and one other thing – Repent!