The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven. But he answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ In the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can’t discern the signs of the times! An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah.†He left them, and departed. Matthew 16:1-4 (WEB)
There is much speculation these days about the ‘end times’, especially since we have experienced severe hurricanes, a tsunami that has killed over 100,000 people, and an earthquake that killed another 300,000 people. Questions are raised about the ‘escalating’ severity of the weather and even Christian media brings up discussions about ‘God’s punishment on sinners’.
Jesus tells me in this passage that there will be no miraculous sign except one like Jonah’s silence for three days in the belly of a whale and Jesus’ silence for three days in the tomb. As long as we rebel against the will of God and are adulterous to our first love, Jesus Christ, we can ask for explanations all we want – but we’re missing the point.
For me, the point is this: Love the Lord with all that you are, holding nothing back. Love your neighbor as yourself. Go then – and make disciples because the Father desires that all come to know His truth.
Through all these tragedies there are opportunities to show God’s love – without expecting payment. We have been given so much – salvation, a free gift – and more love from our Father than we can grasp the height, width, and depth of its size. Jesus said we were given it freely and so we should freely give.
There are so many of these Scriptures that I know and understand what God is telling me to do and I am not yet fulfilling – why do I spend time looking at the sky and trying to interpret ‘the times’?
He [Jesus] spoke this parable. “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. He said to the vine dresser, ‘Behold, these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and found none. Cut it down. Why does it waste the soil?’ He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it, and fertilize it. If it bears fruit, fine; but if not, after that, you can cut it down.’â€Â              Luke 13:6-9 (WEB)
God is giving me more and more opportunities to reach out and be His ambassador. It is time for me to grow the abundant amount of fruit that He desires for me and that I desire to grow for God’s glory. It is time. Now.
