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Poverty - are we moving Forward?

In September 2000 the United Nations stated, "We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women, and children from the abject and dehumanising conditions of extreme poverty to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected." Recently, a report was released showing that the dramatic rise in the living standards of the high income world has not assisted the extreme poverty of the third-world regions. The information released revealed that:

* Over 1.1 billion people - one fifth of the world's population - live on less than $1 a day; and 2.7 billion are living on less than $2 a day.

* High income countries will need to increase aid levels and liberalise global trade to reduce developing countries poverty rates.

* While the proportion of people living in extreme poverty in East Asia has recently fallen, the number of people living on less than $1 a day in Sub-Saharan Africa rose to 314 million, accounting for 47 percent of the population.

Is there a cure in sight?

From time to time we are all confronted with tragic images of those affected by this inequity - but what can we do? Any donations that we may give are but a drop in a bucket compared to what is necessary.   Poverty has more dimensions than simply an absence of assets: poor people are vulnerable to economic shocks, natural disasters, violence and crime. They are often denied access to education, adequate health services and clean water and sanitation. The solution is beyond curing by the generosity of individuals or the World Aid organisations.   No government would be able to fund or solve poverty worldwide with all its associated issues. The out-of-balance government spending highlights how this inequity will continue to move further out of our reach: poverty seems incurable. No answer seems in sight.

Poverty to be cured by Christ

Fortunately for mankind, God, who created the earth and placed man upon it to rule, is aware of man's inadequacy to govern correctly

Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.      Ps 146:3-4 (KJV)

He has stated that He will intervene by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, back to the earth to take control of all human governments:

And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. Acts 3:20-21(KJV)

And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.      Daniel 2:44 (KJV)

And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.      Daniel 7:27 (KJV)

Then, the apparent "incurable" problems such as human poverty will be resolved. The huge amount of finance presently poured into the development of weaponry by all nations, will be stopped: and instead there will be the constructive use of resources   for   the   development   of infrastructures that will benefit mankind. Isaiah the prophet states that the nations,

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.        Isaiah 2:4 (KJV)

The equipment that is today being developed and used for destructive purposes will be recycled and turned into equipment for agricultural use.    The Psalmist states that Jesus Christ as king over a new worldwide government will "save the children of the needy" and there will be an "abundance" of corn to provide for the needs of all. All earthly rulers will submit to his rule and mankind generally will benefit (Psalm 72).

God will make Poverty History

The Bible provides this wonderful picture of peace, tranquillity and wellbeing for all:

The wilderness and the solitary place shall lie glad for them: and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose...Then the eyes of the blind shall he opened, and the ears of the deaf shall he unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as a hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water..." (Isaiah 35).   

What a refreshing change. What a wonderful time when all the chaos and poverty, the evil. Corruption and oppression of the present will be swept away and remembered no more. We each need to determine to find out how we can be involved in that time.

Free booklet - God's New World

God has promised an end to the problems of this world - and we can be part of it.   Read more (with your Bible in hand) by requesting the above booklet, giving full details of your name and address and mentioning this newsletter, from any of the contact points below (FREEPOST address does not require a stamp or any other details):

The Christadelphians
5 Rattray Street
DUNDEE DD1 1NA

Or

regular mail: FREEPOST CHRISTADELPHIANS

e-mail: christadelphians@21blake.freeserve.co.uk

Click on the advert for location details and times and also a leaflet in PDF format. Acrobat or similar will be required to open it.

Looking for Jesus
Coming soon, an audio-visual presentation to be given throughout Scotland... Dundee, Sunday 2 Oct, 6pm (see left) more venue for the rest of Scotland to follow soon. NOTE - Time Change!