I like most other Americans, have been watching the economic news quite closely lately.  I am disheartened to hear the economic outlook for the following year.  Just today our current President George W. Bush, officially announced that the USA is in recession.  It was also announced today that the unemployment rate has risen nationally to 6.7%.  This rate makes it the highest that the unemployment rate has been in about 15 years.  Unfortunately, as consumer confidence continues to dwindle, so does the economic outlook for the United States and other industrialized nations.  This means that it is likely to get even worse in the coming months and perhaps years.  (At least gas is cheap again)

In the midst of these unfortunate economic disasters several large corporation are going to the US government and asking for what they are calling “bail out money.”   These corporation are requesting federal funds (see US TAX DOLLARS) in order stave off bankruptcy.  The “Big  Three” United States automakers are going to Washington to ask for two billion (2,000,000,000) dollars in federal money to avoid bankruptcy proceedings.  Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors are all going together to request this money since all three seem to be on the verge of collapse.  They blame it on bad economic times, and unprecedented problems.  I have not heard one of them come out yet and say, we need to fix ourselves.  Our way of doing things does not work and we will make the necessary corrections to fix our company.  The Congress is considering their request, and in all likelihood will grant some kind of bail out package to the automakers.  This will be in addition to the federal money already given to the failing banks and mortgage institutions.

The problem with these bail outs is this, “THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS UNLIMITED MONEY”  For every bail out package that is given, the government will have to increase taxes on citizens and other businesses,   This will directly affect consumer spending and savings as there will be less money in our pockets and more in the government bail outs.  The other issue is, that a bankrupt company will have to change its’ ways drastically or it will continue to lose money.  A broken system needs someone to come in and clean house and that’s what bankruptcy proceedings do.  When you grant federal funds to a corporation you are basically saying, “Go ahead and lose money.  In a few years we will come along and bail you out again.”  This creates a cycle of dependency and the money that is given in the bailouts, never ends up being returned.  It starts a downward economic spiral that these corporations may not be able to escape from.  They will eventually be destroyed unless they are willing to change and change now.

But this is an apostolic blog and you’re probably asking yourself, “What does this have to do with the church?”  It seems to me that a lot of people in the world are asking God for a bail out.  They end up in a situation that they cannot control and cannot get out of on their own.  Eventually, they fall to their knees and ask God to help them out.  Just like the Big Three they cry out to a “higher power” to bail them out of their bankrupt lives.  God helps them out and delivers them from their problems.  But like these American corporations they refuse to admit that they were going bankrupt on their own.  So after God bails them out and they get back on their feet, they go right back into pursuing a life of sin.

However, just like the bail outs, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS UNLIMITED GRACE.  Eventually, the “bail out” will no longer be offered to the sinner.  Eventually, God will wipe His hands of them and turn them over to their own lusts.  They will waste their life completely and save nothing for the next life.  So when they pass from this mortal coil they will be “bankrupt.”  I have had to ask God for mercy, but true repentance is based on a desire and willingness to change.  Without change a bail out is no good to the sinner.  They will just end up in the same situation of sin again.  Don’t let yourself continue the cycle of sin.  When God bails you out make changes in yourself to be “solvent” for your future.  The corporation go to Capitol Hill for their bail outs.  Jesus made the ultimate bail out plan for us when He went to Calvary Hill.

In His Service,