The Eighties In Retrospect

As another decade glides into history we can look back and praise God for His mercy and keeping power despite all the problems these years have brought.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change, and though the mountains be moved in the heart of the seas (Ps 46:1,2).

We too take refuge in a God who is at hand to help those who fear Him, however foreboding the course of events.

How impressive are the unexpected, sudden developments which bring about tremendous political change! Early in the eighties it would have seemed so unlikely that the Russian attitudes personified in President Brezhnev and his Foreign Minister Gromyko were likely to be modified. Yet today we have glasnost and perestroika, with their accompanying Outbursts of national feeling in several republics of the Soviet Union. Who would have anticipated that President Marcos of the Philippines would be unseated by a woman, swept to office on a tidal wave of "people power"? Or that the once banned 'Solidarity' movement in Poland would within nine years be asked to share political power with those who had repressed it? Always remembering of course the contrasting reinforcement of oppression in such countries as Rumania and China.

Perhaps we are at times tempted to feel that the great crisis days of the end-time may not after all be too imminent. For they are seen in the prophetic Word as times of ruthless dictatorship, with greater destruction and death than ever before (Mat. 24:21; Rev. 9:18; Rev. 13:7-10,16,17). Events of the eighties would warn us that however unlikely such developments may seem at the moment, political change can be incredibly rapid. September 1989 was the 50th anniversary of the outbreak of World War II. The media featured prominently the course of events which plunged the world into the devastation of Hitler's war - within a decade of his seizing power. There is no reason for complacency in today's situation.

The eighties saw significant developments in technology and science.

Investigation of the universe has been remarkably served by the spacecraft Voyagers 1 and 2, both launched in 1977. Twelve years and 2.8 billion miles later Voyager 2 transmitted back to earth a wealth of data about the planet Neptune. As an excited astronomer declared on television, "We have learned more about Neptune in the past few hours than in the whole course of history". All this reminds us that Scripture predicts increased knowledge at the time of the end: "Seal the book", Daniel was told, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased" (Dan. 12:4).

Progress in technology, but decline in morality! World-wide, the eighties have witnessed the sad effects on society of departure from the fear of God and the standards of His word. Sexual scandals among prominent politicians and preachers have shocked the world. The toll of drug and alcohol abuse is undiminished. Shady dealings have besmirched the image of well known financiers. Marital unfaithfulness, divorce and child abuse sadly affect family life in many countries. Violence abounds. "Darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples", Isaiah wrote regarding the condition of mankind before the advent of the Deliverer Out of Zion (Is. 60:1-2; Rom. 11:26). The trend towards the end-time is that "evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse" (2 Tim. 3:13); a trend amply illustrated throughout the past decade.

In the religious scene it has been a decade of extending compromise among the traditional Protestant churches. Ecumenism has gained more ground, though the firm stance taken by Pope John Paul II on certain doctrinal issues, notably the ordination of-women priests, has tended to hamper efforts towards union between Catholic and Anglican. The upsurge of Islam in Europe has continued, and Islamic fundamentalism has exercised a sinister influence in the Middle East.

Yet against this background the true gospel of Christ has still been triumphantly communicated in many parts of the world, leading to the salvation of souls and the exaltation of Christ's Name. Blessed be God who works all things after the counsel of His will! Through yet another decade of human provocation against divine righteousness, God has waited in longsuffering, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

unknown | Dec 1989
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