Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The President's First News Conference

In the first prime-time news conference of his presidency, President Barack Obamaaddressed the American people while urging members of Congress to move quickly with his massive economic stimulus plan. The Commander-in-Chief warned that a failure to act "could turn a crisis into a catastrophe." In addition, he stated, "The plan is not perfect. No plan is. I can't tell you for sure that everything in this plan will work exactly as we hope, but I can tell you with complete confidence that a failure to act will only deepen this crisis as well as the pain felt by millions of Americans."

The merits of the proposed plan to rescue the faltering economy will not be known for some time. Some feel the plan is right on target. Others feel it will only add insult to injury and burden both present and future generations in an unprecedented way. But what is perhaps most tragic in it all is the utter lack of bringing God into the equation on any level. It is as though He did not even exist, and if He does, He is unable to help. Some might even wonder the worsening scenario as yet another way of God attempting to awaken a spiritually dulled nation.

In Matt 6 Jesus spoke out forcefully about making material things the focal point of life.Beginning in verse 25 He presents a series of questions attempting to show that He is the ultimate provider and the One who can bring true peace when worldly worries pursue.

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" In verse 33 He offers His solution. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Even if the economic crisis were turned around fully and every American were to prosper greatly in the coming years, that would not address a far more terrifying danger – one spoken of in Matthew 16. Verse 26 asks the most sobering of al questions. "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

President Obama said, "The plan is not perfect. No plan is.” Again his assessment is accurate - unless it deals with the saving of one’s eternal soul and not his 401K. In that realm a perfect plan does exist. It carries with it the genius and guarantee of the Creator God. His plan is simple, perfect, and contains no extra ‘spiritual pork barrel’ items. This strategy is best revealed in what is the best known verse in all of Scripture. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) Paul and Silas, in Acts 16:31, also presented the plan – this time using just 11 sacred words. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”

The President warned his nation that a failure to act swiftly on his rescue plan "could turn a crisis into a catastrophe”. But God’s word warns that everyone has been born into spiritual crisis and in desperate need of a supernatural bailout. Even so, this looming spiritual catastrophe need not last. It can be instantly and permanently turned into a life of prosperity and victory when God’s flawless recovery plan is implemented through faith in Jesus Christ.

“How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” (Hebrews 2:3)

Bill Breckenridge

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