Just how much we felt FINANCIAL CRISIS depended on many factors.  Almost without exception we felt the pains of "Too Little" or "Not Enough".  From small "Personal Arrangements" with our creditors, to large business liquidation’s, we have experienced the tense anxiety that accompanies these situations.

Sometimes when desperate, we took action to try to alleviate our position.  The actions we chose did not always place us in a position to be respected.  We tried to justify doing things which we would not have condoned in our earlier life.

It seemed family break-up, and financial strain were brothers.  How it seemed we were perishing through lack of knowledge! (Hos. 4:6).

 

And then there are those who have not only lost the opportunity, but also the ability to generate income. How often these blessings were taken for granted.

Many, though having been religious or church attenders, had never understood the church ceremony they thought it was necessary to be part of, to be a pleaser of God, or their parents, or their family, or their friends.

As they grew older these ceremonies held nothing for them; they were receiving nothing for their efforts.

If they stayed on, it was for one or more of a
variety of reasons other than enjoying the personal relationship of the Lord, which they were unable to experience -simply because Christ was not alive and present in their ceremonies.

Little realizing it, they found instead they were tied up by man, and man's rules and doctrines.  The Gospel of good news, the Bible as it is written, was never upheld, appearing perhaps only at funerals and weddings.  Meanwhile in between these occasions, it was given some quiet place of reverence in a closet at home.

 

Many left, not seeing any worthwhile reason to stay on, concluding privately, that if this was "God", then religion was a deep down waste of time; and practiced by hypocrites. They doubted then, that God even existed - maybe they themselves had been evolved, the salvation message of no practical value, and that heaven and hell was the life we had on this earth.

We were just like that. About this time we began to label preachers, and others as "Bible Bashers" - the message they preached good for women and kids.

We know of many, many people who were bogged down with this situation.

 

SOME COMMENTS

"I was afraid of God, I was petrified".

"I thought He was just waiting for me to put one foot out of line".

"I couldn't understand how God could be who they said He was".

"If He was as good as they said He was, why was this world in a mess".

"God doesn't really care".

"I could not remember when I first became afraid of God, but I started to suspect early teachings in my life could be to blame.  I asked God to help me to know the truth".

"I don't need this Jesus, the in-between man, I go right to the top".

A harsh God, a cruel God, a punishing God - .  Whatever our inner protestations -fortunately we were wrong.

 

DECEPTION