The Wall Street Meltdown of 2008 has definitely dampened the hearts of many fainthearted. But does't it have a familiar ring to it? Remember the Asian Finiancial Crisis of 1997? Remember Black Monday in 1987? What can we earn from them all?

Firstly, we should not be surprised when such shakings come. God says in Hebrew 12:26-27, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken - that is, man-made things - so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

The final "shaking" will be in the second coming of Christ. But before that day comes, let us not be caught off guard. Rather, let us ask God to give us the anointing of Issachar, that we would understand the times and seasons that we are in and that we will know exactly what to do.

Secondly, we must put our confidence in the right thing. Thimes of crisis and meltdowns unravel what or who we trust in. Is our trust linked to our investments? Is our life anchored upon the Rock and built upon things that last for eternity? It is a time for us believers to once again declare that our confidence is not in worldly "chariots", but in Christ, who nover disappoints and whose Kingdom can never be shaken - Hebrew 12:28a.

Let us be thankful and live our lives with godly fear as we look forward to the final shaking when Christ comes again.