Treasure In Clay Jars

I read a very interesting article yesterday in the New York Times on the topic of the shrinking birth rate in Europe over the past few decades. The article outlines the demographic danger facing Europe with the high likelihood that several countries (Italy, Spain and Germany among others) will see their native populations decrease by up to 40% by 2050. According to the article, the replacement birth rate necessary to maintain an equal population size from generation to generation is 2.1 children born to each woman. In Europe according to the article the rate is well below 2.0, with some countries closer to 1.5 and dropping. It is a lengthy and very interesting read that sheds some light on a phenomenon that in all likelihood will reshape the face of Western Europe within 100 years. The interesting thing about the article is that it was published after extensive research and interviews with many experts and it offers various possible explanations for why this situation has developed.

I was watching a television commercial the other night and the thought occurred to me how similar this world is to a television commercial. I was thinking specifically about the image that the commercial producers want you to see versus the information that they don’t want you to focus on. I have a tendency to focus on the small print that appears on most TV commercials just to be humored by the true costs, disclaimers and other very pertinent negative pieces of information that accompanies the “glitzy” and “eye-catching” product that usually draws many people to the stores. You should try it once. You might find that when you do, the product doesn’t seem as attractive any longer. The Bible states very clearly that for His purposes, God has given control of this world over to Satan (but only for a time): Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message