Have you ever seen a mirage? It generally looks like water on the road in the middle of nowhere on a hot sunny day. There have been tails of thirsty people who have seen entire oasises.
The American lifestyle is a mirage. It looks real, but there is nothing there. It is even more deceptive because our grandparents and maybe even parents spoke of it as something they had personally been to and modeled for us that it was worth pursuing.
But, it has evaporated. The next few days/months/years(?) are important for your family and your church in preparing for how you will handle the shift that is coming.
how are you preparing?
How do you prepare for the economic tidal wave about to strike the world?
Some people stock up on food and supplies; others get guns and ammo; some will collect fuel and generators.
Most bury their head deeper into the sands of the American dream. Many are going deeper into debt, building bigger barns and pretending all is well.
In the attached screenshot you'll find that American debt as a country is at 30T dollars! It was at 22T 2 years ago. We are no longer spending our GDP. We are spending 130% of our GDP. We have printed 8T out of nowhere in the last 2 years.
At the link below you will find that this isn't normal. In fact, America is the only country in the top of this list that has a GDP that is SHRINKING.
https://www.usdebtclock.org/world-debt-clock.html
The economy is not strong. Life is about to change in America.
How do I prepare? By preparing my family and the church. We must think differently. We must understand that nothing is guaranteed. Our meeting places, our homes, our lifestyles must be transformed if we are to weather the days ahead, fruitfully.
We must learn to be content to have food and clothes for today. We must understand God's plan for His Kingdom and quit pursuing any other kingdom.
The time is coming when we will no longer be able to obediently pursue both God and the American dream.
Paul's advice to Timothy is an ordained word for us today:
"Teach and urge these things. If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life." - 1 Timothy 6
When you are used to being in the richest 5% of the world's population, it is hard to find those in need. When everything collapses, how will you respond? There will be needy everywhere. Will you share what you have with others, storing up treasure, elsewhere? Will you compare them to the foolish virgins and deride them? Would you be willing to kill someone over a 5-gallon can of gas you were hoping to use for powering communication or heat?
These are questions Christians aren't prepared to answer, especially the preppers.
There is a much easier life: Daily obedience. It led Joseph to store up enough to share for an entire nation. It teaches a man to plan before building. It led Jesus to wander day-to-day finding food and shelter. It led Paul into prison. It led Stephen to be stoned. It has led missionaries to death and kings into thrones. This is what is truly life.
Obedience is the road, the destinations of this kingdom are always a mirage.
Have you taken hold of what is truly life; or must a false life first be pried from your truly lifeless, fruitless, bitter, covetous, double-minded hands by the destruction of a failing kingdom?