TECHNOLOGY NOT BRINGING HUNGER & POVERTY TO AN END!

The World Economic Forum were in a high state of alarm during their recent meetings in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland.   Why?  One main reason was that the Advance in Technology didn't work out the way they had intended.

Whilst Technology has indeed given us a dramatic increase in convenience, it has NOT provided much progress in bringing an end to hunger and poverty. 

So, who or what is the World Economic Forum (WEF)?  It is a membership organization  Their Members comprise 1,000 of the world’s top corporations, global enterprises usually with more than US$5 billion in turnover.  It is  "committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas"

So the bewilderment of the members when their plans are not quite working out is not surprising.

Just a thought ... when people leave the God of the Bible out of the equation and try to do things their own way, it is reminiscent of the picture painted for us in Haggai.  When the children of Israel returned to their country after being exiled (in captivity), many

years before, they put themselves first and not God who had made the return to their country possible.     "Why are you living in luxurious houses while My house lies in ruins? ... Look at what's happening to you!   You have planted much but harvest little.  You eat but are not satisfied.  You drink but are still thirsty.  You put on clothes but cannot keep warm.  Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes"  (Haggai 1:4-6)

This is a great description of 2016.  I won't spell it out as the message can easily be applied to all walks of life.  Push God aside, take Him out of the schools, education, business practices, government, etc. and things can and will go very awry sooner or later.

In fact, Rana Foroohar* recently published an article in Time magazine where she states: "It's a paradox because, though we know technology improves productivity and greater productivity creates economic growth, we can't always measure the two working in tandem... Instead of being poised to reap the rewards of a technological windfall, the world is increasingly bracing for what might be yet another global recession in 2016.  Slowing growth in China, a flat-lining Europe, plunging oil prices that are simultaneously decimating emerging markets and failing to provide the usual boost to richer

countries - all of these things have added up to a perfect storm of global gloominess".

People are in a deepening cycle of working harder and earning less. 

The Elite cannot figure this out.  There should be plenty for everyone, but not everyone has honoured the One True God!

Did you know that according to Oxfam International, "62 people own the same as half the world" - put slightly differently, 62 individuals own as much as 3.5 billion people in the world"!

Why am I highlighting this in so much detail today?  ALL of this has great importance as we seek to understand what is happening in relation to what the Bible says about the end-times.  The bewilderment evidenced at Davos this year shows that the Bible prophets were right. The Apostle John said in Revelation 6 that as we reach the end of this Age, the rich will grow richer and the hapless poor will get poorer. And this is despite all the "humanitarian" efforts being made across the globe by individuals, organizations and governments.

God's clock is ticking and time IS running out.  We do not know the exact day or hour the Lord will return, BUT it is important to take note that Jesus rebuked the Pharisees and Saducees (equivalent to churched people) regarding the end of the age when He said to them   "You know the saying, 'Red sky at night means fair weather tomorrow;  red sky in the morning means foul weather all day'.   You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don't know how to interpret the signs of the times!"  (Matthew 16:2-3).  

He has promised He is coming back and we need to be ready and help others to find Jesus as Saviour before it is too late!   It is the very fact that we do not know the day or the hour that we must NEVER cease sharing the Good News about Jesus.   

For some time now and in ever-increasing intensity, one can sense (almost palpably many times), the feeling that something catastrophic is looming in our planet's immediate future. One only needs to look at film topics and how they so often reflect the underlying fears of their audiences. For several years now, there has been an increasing sense of doom portrayed by the film producers.  Even TV themes tend to be apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic. 

So, regardless of what you think of this topic, the truth is that the Lord Jesus Christ IS coming back again!  He is not slow concerning His promise for a day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.  He is giving everyone the opportunity to get to know Him as Saviour. Sadly there will be very many who will not turn to Him for salvation.

I want to urge you if you do not know Jesus yet, to get to know Him as your Lord and Saviour.  If you do know Him as your Saviour, please be sure you are alert and ready for His return.  He will come suddenly, when you least expect it.  Everything is in place, there is nothing that needs to happen before He returns.  

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.  And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures.  We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, will be revealed."(Titus 2:11-13)

If you have further questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact me.  God bless

* Assistant managing editor for Time magazine. In the past, she has written for Forbes magazine and was Deputy Editor in charge of international business and economics for Newsweek