“When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Matthew 16:3
I know I've used this Scripture before, but I felt it very appropriate not only for the picture but also because if Jesus chastised the religious people of His day for not knowing the signs of His first coming, how much more will he chastise us for not paying attention and being aware of the signs of His second?
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Love the picture and the verse. Oh yes there are many many signs and it saddens me to know that many are not seeing them and if they do , they ignore them . To know that God destroyed a city and all within its gate except Lot and his family because of evilness , and After the Ark was built, just Noah and his family were saved because they believed.
ReplyDeleteIf in the OT times evilness ran throughout-- how then can this generation -if they do not believe in the signs that are before us-- how then can they be saved . I pray and pray--- and each day there comes new evilness and it is accepted as normal doings . Each day my heart drops at the goings on of all the things the POTUS is doing to our country. If my heart aches --I can imagine God just shaking His Head at the corruption --- that is ok in the eyes of those who do not know God . The signs are there and being ignored by the blindness of believing the lies they are trapped in. May your words in your postings bring a glimpse to those who have no hope ----Hope.
Thanks Elsie! I couldn't agree more with what you said. Every day I turn on the TV and/or the news and I'm astounded by what I see and hear. I no long recognize my country. It reminds me of the Scripture from Judges where it says "everyone did what was right in his own eyes". Except what people think as "right" and "acceptable" without God is normally pure evil. So sad, the blindness.
DeleteI have watched people for years who bought every book on prophecy they could get their hands on and were constantly studying the latest thing on end times. However, they would stay at home from church because someone said something that upset them or they didn't like the style of music. Pick any excuse you want. Any will work for them. What good does it do to understand the signs, yet fail to live up to what God expects of us in so many other areas. I'm not saying these people aren't born again believers. I have just been really bothered when studying the signs has been more important than gaining a better knowledge of the entire Bible and helping others discover the love of Jesus. He may come back tonight but does it really profit me much if I have studied the signs but failed to study Him and draw closer to Him. I've watched people flock to the church to hear the pastor preach on end times and they never come the rest of the time. I will admit I am not the most astute on end times but my heart and mind is set on knowing Him better whether or not I ever recognize the first sign. I may get jumped all over for this comment but it is something I have observed in some people for over 40 years.
ReplyDeleteEdward, no jumping all over you here. I agree with you. Our primary focus as believers is to know God, share the Gospel, and make disciples. Absolutely! If we place all our focus on end times or any other topic in the Bible, yet don't fulfill God's purpose for us here and don't grow as Christians, then at best, we have wasted our lives, at worse, we may be idol worshipers (putting anything above God). I agree that there are many end-timers out there who go absolutely crazy always looking for the latest sign. Yet, let's be careful not to swing to the opposite end of the spectrum by not looking at all. Both are wrong. I love looking for signs of Jesus' coming because I love Him and can't wait to be with Him! I feel like a bride waiting for her groom to come sweep her away. Yet, while I'm watching and waiting, I'm doing my best to grow in my walk and learn of Him and be obedient to what He wants me to do. Balance is the key and putting the Lord first above all things. I struggle to do that daily with His help. I appreciate your comment because I know there are people that are out of balance out there.
DeleteWe ARE living in the end times...the signs DO point to that fact. Which means that we need to be about Jesus' work and helping others to come to Him. Great verse and picture, as usual. Yes, look for the signs, look to the clouds....yet focus on what you need to be doing before He returns. Don't let Him catch you sleeping.
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