It is time to learn from history.

Recently we have made history. Probably not the history we would like to make, but none-the-less we made history. Over the last 8 trading days the DOW has dropped 2400 points. Last Friday it fluctuated almost 1000 points in a single day. Investors have lost over 8 trillion dollars since the market began to decline. These are historical events.

One of the many things that I love about God’s Word is how practical it is for today. Written 2000 years ago, God’s Word gives us direction for not only today, but tomorrow as well. Last week we talked about trusting God and not our portfolio. Last week was a great time to rest assured that God is in control and our hope and trust are in Him.

As we read about the Israelites in the Old Testament, we have to wonder why they did not learn from their history. Judges 8:34 says: Thus the sons of Israel did not remember the LORD their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. Our hope is in the future, but indeed God wants us to learn from the past. Proverbs 26:11 is a little more graphic but says the same thing Like a dog that returns to its vomit, is a fool who repeats his folly.

So what can we learn from the past? Here are two facts that we really should not ignore.

1. Stock markets do recover. By looking at the markets over the last 100 years we will see that every time they go down, they do come back up. America is still the strongest economy in the world. It definitely will take time, but if history is correct it will recover.

Remember Proverbs 21:5: "The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty”. If you have money in the stock market, don’t be hasty and take it out now.

2. The stock market usually precedes the economy. What this means is that stock markets are usually about 6 to 9 months ahead of the Economic or Business cycle. This is a scary concept. This could indicate there may be some bad times coming for more of us than the relatively few that have money invested in the stock market.

Here are some suggestions: Pay off your credit cards and any other debt you can. Make sure you are living within your means. Give a second thought to any large expenditure you have planned for next year. Give extra consideration to any career or job changes you are contemplating.

Praise God that we serve a Sovereign God, who loves us, and He is in control of our future. There is nothing more dear to a believer than this fact. Learn from the past and plan for our future, but remember who holds the future. Proverbs 16: 9 says: The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.

Remember what God told the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. And as His child, He loves me just as much as He does the Israelites.