Some Thoughts On Y2K And Other Potential Disasters
By Rev. Kevin S. Johnson
Whether Y2K turns out to be nothing but a mere "bump
in the road," or it is made of the more sterner stuff
we all were concerned about a year ago at this time, it has
served a very good purpose. It has forced all of us to examine
what kind of metal we have in our characters. Some have discovered
that God has put in us reserves of energy and faith that allows
them to rise to meet a seemingly impossible challenge with
purposeful diligence. Others have found out how passive and
fatalistically trapped they have become in their materialistic
pursuits.
There are those who, out of fear, couldn't allow themselves
to even begin to look at a worse case scenario because of
the worldly loss it represented. There are those who looked
at it and acted selfishly to protect their own interests with
very little thought of others. There are still others who
nobly banded together with fellow Christians making strong
plans and preparations, determined to share each other's fates
and help each other in whatever way they could through whatever
difficulties may arise. Some, while believing there is a real
threat, spoke words but didn't follow up with actions. There
are others who had honest reservations about the need to do
anything.
Y2K As A Litmus Test For Love Of God And Each
Other
Gordon McDonald of Koinonia House made a very cogent point
about the Y2K crisis to me in a phone conversation. He said
it represents a "litmus test" to see how well we,
as individuals and the church at large, can cope with impending
danger and uncertainty.
It has already tested what we think of friendship, love,
perseverance and loyalty. It has a message for those who currently
take it seriously, and for those who initially believed the
worst case scenario was likely but who no longer do.
The questions it has posed are many. How attached to the
world's "system" are we? Of course we all are, but
are we willing to distance ourselves from it at all? To what
extent? Do we make commitments and then throw them away because
they become inconvenient (whether those commitments are directly
Y2K related or previous ones that are now impeded by Y2K)?
Proverbs 17:17 says "A friend loveth at all times and
a brother is born for adversity." Do we steadfastly stand
by each other, sharing as best as we can (see Acts 4:34)?
Love covers a transgression (Proverbs 17:9). Do you hold Y2K
against those brothers who believed the worst initially? Do
you hold it against those who just shrugged it off?
Y2K And The Presumptuous Judging Of Others
In our planning and joining together do we believe in each
other as Christians (love believeth all things 1 Corinthians
13:7) and choose to trust, or do we let our imaginations run
wild with improper judging of each other's motives as we prepare
(or have prepared) and covenant (or have covenanted) with
others? This is done by thinking things like: "I'm doing
more for our cause than that brother is so he's purposefully
and cleverly taking advantage of me etc..." or have a
sinful suspiciousness like; "How do I know when things
get bad that he won't... (fill in the blank with something
evil)?" or "That guy is using fear to manipulate
me to help him. Since I know Y2K poses no
threat he must be out to use me in some way by telling me
it is a threat." Sometimes our suspicions and fears about
our fellow believers reveals more about ourselves than it
does about our brothers and sisters.
Our perseverance is tested by whether we believe God was
in our plans before Y2K ever entered our consciousness. If
He was, then we should not look back but persevere onwards
into the future believing we have truly heard from Him. Is
there something He called you to do and you were committed
to before Y2K? Did Y2K alter your commitment? God knows the
end from the beginning and He wouldn't start you on a path
and then change it until the purpose He had in mind, and which
He spoke to you about, was accomplished (see Isaiah 55:11;
Luke 9:62). James calls us to integrity in our perseverance
(James 1:6). There are many plans for this ministry that predate
Y2K by years. These became hard to imagine when worst case
scenarios were contemplated, but we have unflinchingly stood
by them and God has blessed that.
Gordon also said Y2K was a way of testing how we think. What
facts do we accept and why? Do we apply Biblical concepts
to our reasoning such as the nature of man and the nature
of God? The Bible points to God judging nations who violate
the Noahic
covenant and His moral laws. It also says that man can't
be trusted (Jeremiah 17:9 and Romans 3:4). This, of course,
moves us toward the more gloomy side of interpreting the government
reports that just a year ago were saying Y2K could possibly
lead to social unrest and great catastrophe.
Y2K And Patriotism
When thinking of Y2K related governmental martial law (if
unjustified and used for oppression) our courage is tested
and it causes us to ponder to what extent we are prepared
to resist tyranny. It is my fervent hope and prayer that we
are never under a dictatorship worse than King George, or
invaded by foriegn troops like UN or NATO forces, which have
occupied other countries. George Washington wasn't gentle
with the Hessian/Prussian mercenaries fighting for the British!
Before you think that our government isn't capable of unjust
violent behaviour towards its citizens you need to contemplate
Waco. Just today CNN reported that six incendiary devices
used by the government were found at Waco's Branch Davidian
site. This suggests Cult leader David Koresh, did not kill
his people which fits with the facts reported in a video that
has been featured on HBO called, "Waco: Rules of Engagement."
Let us hope that what happened at Waco and Ruby Ridge are
isolated events and represent the worst it can get without
continuously being duplicated elsewhere.
Are we like the self-sacrificing Christian forefathers of
The United States of America, or are we like those self centered
cowardly pagans who screamed, "Better Red Than Dead!"
in the nineteen sixties? Remember, cowards will have their
place in the lake of fire (see Rev. 21:8) so Christians should
not sin in thismanner. There are those who claim they are
not pacifists as long as it is the policemen or paid security
guards that are taking the physical risks for them. They balk
at the idea they may eventually have to sacrifice anything
personally.
"God Takes No Delight In The Death Of The Wicked...But
Boy, I Sure Do!"
This is the attitude expressed by some I've talked to in
the Body of Christ.Yes, God is the One Who judges nations,
but the Bible also posits God as a very loving and patient
Deity as Jonah knew Him to be. Some of God's people don't
want Him to be forgiving to those who are the enemies of God's
people in the present. This is why Jonah booked passage in
the other direction from Ninevah (to Tarshish) because he
wanted God's judgment to bring Ninevah down and he knew God
would be merciful if Ninevah repented. God does not delight
in the death of the wicked so we must never rejoice about
people being hurt (Ezekiel 33:11). This is especially so if
judgment involves children suffering (Jonah 4:11).
We must never rejoice in calamity except
as it reminds us of a greater good like the Second Coming
of Christ (See Luke 21:28) or in our exalting in God's righteousness
and justice as those who dwell in Heaven do (see Revelation
6:10). Vengeance is the Lord's and not ours (see Romans 12:19)
and we must not take it upon ourselves to delight in the potential
pain it brings as Jonah did.
Still, we must recognize God's wrath and judgment on nations
as being a part of the nature of the God we worship (Genesis
15:16; Deuteronomy 32:41; and Ezekiel 14:21). To do less is
to move away from the Biblical record and into the sentimental
apostacy of self-deluded subjectivism. Americans in particular
don't want to think the party could ever be over! But someday
sooner or later...it will be!
Y2K, God's Judgment And Prophecy
God is also the One Who keeps His own counsel. We may be
nearing the culmination of all things, in which case individual
nations might all be judged together at the worldwide tribulation
period preceeding and concurrent with the return of Christ.
The abortion debacle is pandemic worldwide as is the resorting
to warfare to solve problems! His soveriegn mercy and the
signs of the nearness of Christ's return may be the mitigating
factors in God allowing the potential disasters of Y2K, terrorists
using weapons of mass destruction or nuclear war. Again, CNN
just ran another piece today on how vulnerable we are to biological
warfare. It said that millions could die in just a matter
of days in Washington D.C. or any other large city. They said
it is not a matter of "if" but "when"
this is going to happen. One of God's four judgments mentioned
by Ezekiel is warfare.
God's judgment on nations is awful to contemplate, but remember
His mercy is equally awesome and wonderful! When you see the
signs of His return "look up (rejoice) for your redemption
draweth nigh" Luke 21:28.
Some have said Y2K has no eschatological or prophetic significance.
I disagree. "...All things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to
His purpose" (Romans 8:28). The greatest good for God's
people is found in His Second Coming and our blessed hope
of the rapture of the church or the translation of the saints.
Y2K is not specifically spelled out or predicted in the Bible.
This doesn't mean that someone someday may be able to find
how it fit in with God's prophetic purposesfor the world as
He has revealed them in His word. For instance, if it leads
to a uniform international standard of computing and finance
it will be extremely significant in light of Revelation chapter
13.
How Bad Will Y2K Be Here?
I have no absolute way of telling you! Uncertainty is still
a large factor because of contradictory news coming out. There
have been many positive/optimistic reports but recently there
have been many troubling ones again. Only two of our top twenty
cities are ready. Senator Dodd, co-chair of the Y2K committee,
has said words to the effect that cities are kidding themselves
if they think they are going to be ready only just before
the turnover. Many have said they will not be ready until
the fourth quarter of this year with Chicago being among them.
Washington D.C. is talking about having over a hundred "warming
centers" set up. That doesn't sound good. Senator Bennett
is installing a 70 gallon water tank in his apartment in Salt
Lake City. Still, many are saying that the banks are all fine
and that the grid is safe. Much of the rest of the world looks
as though they will be in trouble and that must eventually
impact us economically. Many thousands in London, England
were recently without power for a couple of days due to a
Y2K related glitch.
God will take care of His own but preparation, as much as
is affordable for you to do, is just common sense. The rich
can afford to prepare easily but the poor will be severely
challenged in it. This is nothing new and it doesn't surprise
God! Trust in Him first and foremost and prepare as you are
able. We have a lot of reason to believe that the worst case
scenario will not happen, but there may be a lot of trouble
anyway without that coming to pass.
Y2K Has Been Good For Us Already!
Even if absolutely nothing happens at the first of the year,
Y2K has been good for us for all of the reasons I have already
stated. I will never again take friendship or utilities for
granted -or our culture in general for that matter. I have
given serious thought to contingency planning for a lot of
things that I never before had occasion to ponder. I knew
before Y2K that my priorities were my family first, then my
Christian friends with whom I have a previous comittment (especially
if they depend on me for sustenace either spiritually or physically),
the Body of Christ at large, and finally, the world at large.
I knew this intellectually and spiritually, but Y2K crystallized
it in my heart.
In His Service Gladly,
Rev. Kevin S. Johnson
President ICA
Mount Carmel Outreach
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