“Convinced the planet's oil supply is dwindling and the world's economies are heading for a crash, some people around the country are moving onto homesteads, learning to live off their land, conserving fuel and, in some cases, stocking up on guns they expect to use to defend themselves and their supplies from desperate crowds of people who didn't prepare. The exact number of people taking such steps is impossible to determine, but anecdotal evidence suggests that the movement has been gaining momentum in the last few years…One woman declared, “"I was panic-stricken. Devastated. Depressed. Afraid. Vulnerable. Weak. Alone. Just terrible.”
No one knows what the future holds in terms of prosperity or decline. At the same time, the Lord has filled the earth with resources for human beings to mine and make use of for His glory. He has given us a mandate to subdue the earth and occupy it until He comes.
The kind of fear that grips survivalists is that of those who have no belief in God or in the world to come. They have a one-world-only view: this world. Having the knowledge that God has provided resources would certainly be comforting. Knowing that this world is not our home would be freeing. Regardless of what happens, the believer will end up with Christ. Rational preparation for adverse circumstances is biblically wise but panic has its ground in a completely different worldview.
Ultimately, Christians have something to say to persons trapped in such a devastated, depressed, fearful, vulnerable, weak, and lonely state. There is a God who is in charge of all things and He has promised to work all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28). He has also promised a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13). There is no need to panic. At the same time, we ourselves then should be “looking forward to these things” and we should “be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless (2 Pet. 3:14).” I don’t like rising gas prices. But neither have I lost one second’s sleep over the issue.
On today’s edition of “Calling for Truth,” we’ll start the conversation with the issue of fear and the peace that we have in Christ. Note also that its “Q&A Friday.” We’ll see where the callers take us.
