There are 'Seven Lean Years' Ahead....And That May Be The Understatement Of All Time

                Our pastor and personal friend had recommended the film.....more than recommended it....for he was almost ecstatic over it. Now this man....if I had to name a 'number one'....was probably the finest preacher on the glories of Christ that I have ever heard in person. So this wasn't an....I've got nothing better to do than go to the movies....type of thing.
                My wife and I....and our son and a friend of his....went to see the movie....like immediately....the next day. And yes it was a great film....but halfway or so through it....in this day and age.....this was the Spring of 1999....the film broke! After about fifteen minutes they announced that it could not be fixed right then....and offered our money back. Someone shouted out...."well at least tell us how it ends!" The film was based on a court case. I immediately stood up....in the front....and faced the crowd....and shouted....."Don't anybody say anything!" I can really be weird at times....or have you noticed? The very next night my wife and I returned and watched the movie in full....The Winslow Boy....David Mamet's film....based on Terence Rattigan's 1946 play....of a real-life court case involving a father's defense of his son who was kicked out of England's Royal Naval College, Osborne. There was also a 1948 film on the play. Both are excellent!
                OK.....in the film it is 1911....the Victorian Era was waning....the British church was post Spurgeon....and post Ryle. British Christianity was on the way down....until the Martyn Lloyd-Jones ministry began in earnest. In the first scene the Winslow family returns from church. No one seems particularly thrilled at their church service....except the father. Something in the sermon grabbed him. It was about Joseph in Egypt....second in command....interpreting Pharaoh's dream of seven fat years and seven lean years....and thus preparing for the coming famine.
                 It is time right now.....past time actually....to prepare for what is coming. Who would have thought a week ago that they would have trouble in Palm Springs getting to the grocery store because of flooding? Should not hurricanes alone teach us that emergency provisions should always be on hand? I will at times bring this up to Christians....and often their response is that we just have to trust in God. Well that's not very profound.....as the essence in our entire salvation is based on trusting in our wonderful and glorious and merciful yet righteous and just God! My response is usually...."How about trusting in God's warnings?"
                 The seven fat years and seven lean years is not just an off-the-wall number. There are seven years of tribulation coming in God's perfect timing. And folks....what is far more important than preparing for lean times....is preparing spiritually. These are already lean times! Food from the pulpits is minimal to non-existent....but guess what? Praise God there is a storehouse of sermons....great and wonderful sermons from preachers of the past....and even preachers today who preach like preachers of the past!