Chaos

Thanks for all the fish

If you do a search of Stock Market crashes throughout history, you will find there have been many but the one that most people identify with is the great crash of 1929 that led to the Great Depression. This lasted four years and a subsequent echo crash in 1937. The second crash was just before the States entered into WW2. There have been many more over the decades that followed such as the collapse during COVID and most recently the market slide taking place right now. So, your question might be “what has this got to do with faith?” Let me take you back, way back, to two events that may help to shed light on the situation today.

When the people saw how long it was taking Moses to come back down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron. “Come on,” they said, “make us some gods who can lead us. We don’t know what happened to this fellow Moses, who brought us here from the land of Egypt.” Exodus 32:1 NLT

But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!”

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”

“Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. Matt 14:27-33 NLT

It is interesting that the golden calf was used in Exodus because there is a bull on Wall Street that represents financial optimism and strength but like all things mankind symbolizes as power and wealth, they only are given the status according to our whims. At one time, lead was considered valuable as was silk or purple dyes. Simple things given status of wealth but in truth, they have been, over time, the root of so many wars and strife. You see, anything that takes the focus off the Lord or attempts to lord over our Creator will, not might but will, create chaos.

The crowd from Egypt that owed their freedom to the Lord above, decided to take matters into their own hands when Moses did not return when they wanted him to so they made idols they remembered from the days in Egypt because that was their fall back. Chaos ensued when Moses came down off the mountain and this all nearly cost the tribes their lives but Moses intervened and they were saved from destruction. Peter focused on the Lord, Jesus, during the storm and was able to exit the chaos and walk on water toward Him but the moment the chaos came back into view, Peter began to sink. Jesus stepped in and pulled Peter out of the mess he was in and was saved.

“You really are the Son of God”

In the chaos, when the power and the presence of God is all around us and we focus on the storm, we make false gods out of gold and silver, the Lord is always there, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. My head hurts when I watch all these “experts” tell the world that the only way to come through the chaos is to invest in this, ride that out, vote for this person or that one, put a shamrock under the mattress on the left side at the feet and spin around three times before getting into bed. Let me tell you the secret to ending the chaos, give over to the love and protection of the Lord, never take your eye off of Him and life will change. If everyone were to turn back to the Lord, the issues and chaos caused by the love of money and power, both false gods, would wane and there would be a calm like you’ve never seen before come over the world. There are those who scoff at this but, like Peter, they lose focus on the Way and revert back to only seeing the chaos.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Pro 3:5-6 NLT

This week, Pastor Todd is bringing us his final Sunday message at Main Avenue Fellowship. He will be heading out on holidays. At the end of the month, Todd and Natalie will be retiring from professional ministry, and will be travelling to Nova Scotia to fish and fellowship, enjoying nature on ocean beaches. Please plan to join us either in person or online at 10:30 AM this Sunday. The service will be broadcast online on our website (https://www.mainavefellowship.ca/socialplatforms) or you are more than welcome to join us in person at 402 Main Ave. W in Sundre, AB.

Blessings,

www.mainavefellowship.ca