It will soon be official. In less than three days, the 2010 calendar will be in the drawer and we will have entered into the second decade of the 21st century.
Economically, this decade was a bust. Stock values ended the decade almost where they began. While our population has grown by 27,000,000, the number of employed Americans is virtually unchanged. And adjusted for inflation, the average American earns 5% less than 10 years ago.
The good news is that America has never had two down decades in a row, so this one ought to be better. (Though I'm not making any predictions.)
Physically, a decade ago we were downsizing our military because of peace. Few of us had heard of the Taliban, even less of Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden. Today, members of our own church are in a fistfight on the ground in the country of Afghanistan, and we're all wondering just how close Iran is to having a nuclear weapon, and what that might mean to Israel and end times prophecies.
The good news is, the Bible predicted that there would be a rise in wars and earthquakes before the return of Christ. So who knows, we might be getting close!
Spiritually, to God's sorrow, millions died this decade without knowing Christ. And 1,700,000 Christians were martyred.
The good news is, Christianity (in all its expressions) is growing by 8.9% annually, worldwide. At the current rate, every person on the planet will be a Christ-follower by 2032. And here at New Song, we've helped by training 100,000 church planters through DCPI throughout the world, and seen 6,100 receive Christ locally.
My friend Walt Wilson (president of Global Media Outreach) tells me that 85% of the world now has access to the worldwide web either by computer or mobile phone, and that the whole world will be connected by 2015. Jesus predicted that his gospel would be preached in the whole world and then the end would come. So we may be entering the most strategic period in human history!
Personally, I'm listening for God's voice and hearing him call his church to a greater focus and intensity level. The people of this world need Jesus, and our chances may soon be passing away. I'm praying that 50% of the city I serve comes to Christ before my death, or his return. It may be soon, so we must pray, sacrifice and engage! May this new decade begin a whole new era of fervency for Christ. Amen?
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