Reading Sign

“Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him asked that he would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, ‘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 16:1-3 NKJV).

A group of campaigners traveled to a national park in Nigeria for a break after several days of work, hoping to see some African animals. As we went through the park towards headquarters to register and get our rooms for the night, we stopped to see an area of old hand-dug dry wells.

The group scattered out looking into different wells. As we did so we heard an animal in the bush around us, but were not particularly concerned.

One man stopped at a well that had a pole sticking out of it, and without thinking much about it, he shook the pole. Suddenly, a female baboon, which had been in the bottom of the well, rushed up the pole, out of the well, almost in the man’s face.

As she fled, a large male baboon (apparently her mate) rushed to meet and protect her. Belatedly, we realized that the situation could have been dangerous, but, thankfully, the animals left without incident.

More experienced visitors to the park would undoubtedly have recognized the sounds we heard as the warning calls of the baboon. None of us were able to identify them; therefore we did not properly interpret the signs of potential confrontation and danger.

Much trouble may be avoided if one is able to read signs correctly. This applies not only to danger from jungle animals, but to weather, political difficulties, crime, violence, and also to spiritual danger.

Jesus rebuked the religious leadership of his day for being more able to read the signs of weather, than those of the purpose and plans of God.

His criticism is particularly appropriate because Jesus’ coming was predicted in vivid detail by the prophets of the Old Testament period.

The Pharisees and Sadducees prided themselves on their knowledge of and obedience to the Scriptures, including the prophets. If anyone were able to recognize and acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, sent by God, it should have been them. Yet they were the most adamant in denying his true identity.

Many Christians today are far more knowledgeable about physical matters pertaining to this world than their Bibles and the will of God. They discuss political personalities and events to minutest detail.

They know the ups and downs of the stock market. They can talk for hours about their favorite sports teams. But they may be completely blind to spiritual problems in their lives and relationships, and have little concept of what God desires for them.

Psalm 1 praises the righteous man, described as blessed by God, stable and enduring as a tree planted by a stream of water (verse 3). His dominate characteristic is that “[h]is delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night” (verse 2).

Such a man has his priorities right. He is able to read the signs that really matter, those which will determine his ultimate destiny and success.

Frequently in his ministry Jesus taught that one must “watch” (Matthew 25:13), “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41), and “be ready” (Matthew 24:44), because of temptations and also because of future events within God’s purposes.

That watchfulness and preparation included knowledge of God’s revealed word.

“Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet . . . then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” (Matthew 24:15-16).

Not all of the signs revealed in the Bible refer to apocalyptic or eschatological events. Many pertain to our spiritual condition, and the needs and problems we face in this life.

Like the Pharisees and Sadducees of Jesus’ day, too many modern believers take their knowledge of God for granted and do not polish their skills at reading signs — especially those signs that truly matter.

Tragically, events which they could be prepared for will ultimately surprise and destroy them. Let us watch and pray, being always ready for God’s will to be done.

Michael E. Brooks @ www.forthright.net

“For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them” (2 Peter 2:20-21 NKJV).

People in undeveloped countries are frugal from necessity. They never purchase a thing new if they can find a serviceable substitute at less cost, or even better, for free.

Students at Khulna Bible College like to keep filtered water in their rooms for personal use. They can get water free from our filtration system downstairs. But they need containers. Whenever anyone is off campus and forced to purchase bottles of water, they are carefully kept for refilling. It is an understood rule here: you just don’t throw away a good bottle.

Satan also recycles. Just because a person comes to faith in Jesus and obeys the Gospel, having his or her sins removed, does not mean that the Devil will give them up as un-claimable. Paul warned Christians to keep their guard up against his darts (Ephesians 6:16).  Peter compares him to “a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Sin will reclaim us as it did Ananias and Saphira (Acts 5:1-10) and Simon of Samaria (Acts 8:13,18-23). He is clever, persistent, and powerful. We must always be watchful against his deceptions.

But Satan is also not alone in recycling. God practices it too. He calls it forgiveness. After listing a number of sins that will keep souls from heaven Paul proclaimed, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (1 Corinthians 6:11).

What a glorious thought. Just because a person has been used by sin, that does not mean his fruitfulness is ended. God can redeem him. He can create him again as a new creature “in righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:24). He operates the world’s only perfect recycling center.

People may also recycle their relationships. It is done exactly like God does it, through the practice of forgiveness. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

None of us has failed to hurt or offend someone for whom we care. Sometimes that has meant the end of trust and therefore closeness. Marriages, friendships, parent-child relationships and many others are tragically marred or ended by our blunders.

Rarely is such separation intended or desired, but it happens. And all too often pride, stubbornness, and plain hurt feelings prevent either party from seeking to heal the breach or to make restitution for the wrong done.

The late beloved Marshall Keeble once said something like this, “Marriages often fail because neither party will back up; I wouldn’t buy a car without a back-up gear.” That was his folksy wise way of saying we must learn to apologize and ask for forgiveness.

No one stays married happily, nor does any other relationship last, without an “I’m sorry” and “You are forgiven” being exchanged from time to time.

If water bottles are too precious to throw away after only one use, how much more true is that of souls, and of precious and rare relationships? Let us learn to recycle, as God does.

–by Michael E. Brooks

 

“Standing like an enemy, he has bent his bow; with his right hand, like an adversary, he has slain all who were pleasing to his eye; on the tent of the daughter of Zion, he has poured out his fury like fire”
(Lamentations 2:4 NKJV).

While traveling throughout the world I often find myself having to refuse someone’s request. It may be for medical help, to assist in evangelism, or simply a personal loan for some private business. Some of these are legitimate needs, but I have limited funds; no one can do everything. Others seem less valid and are turned down for lack of merit. Rarely is there anything “personal” in the decision.

In spite of this, any refusal will often create tension in our relationship. It is a very human tendency to take any negative as an attack. Whether it be a no to a request, or a criticism of some word or deed, we don’t like to be disagreed with. Those are the acts of enemies, not friends. At least that is the thinking of many.

The writer of Lamentations (believed by many to be the prophet Jeremiah) speaks of God “standing like an enemy” against Zion (Jerusalem). Lamentations is the prophet’s poetic mourning over the city and its people.
Writing just after Babylon’s mighty army had invaded and destroyed the nation of Judah and taken its people hostage, he acknowledges the justice of God and the righteousness of this punishment for sin.

In the next verse he repeats his description. There “The Lord is like an enemy.” That is to say, he treated Judah as an enemy might, but that does not mean he hated the nation or its people or was against them.

Rather God’s love for his chosen people, the descendants of Abraham, is attested throughout the Old Testament (Hosea 11:1; 1 Kings 10:9). Far from being an enemy, God had chosen Israel (including Judah), freed her from bondage, established a covenant with her, and put her into a fertile land. His love was manifest.

Yet many generations of the Israelites strayed from faith in God and turned to idolatry and many abominations. After centuries of appealing with them through prophets and occasional righteous kings, God proclaimed that it was enough. He judged the land and brought Babylon against it.

As Jeremiah recognized, God’s actions were justified and necessary. Their purpose was to bring Judah to repentance, allowing God to eventually reestablish them in the land and fulfill his eternal purpose for them in Jesus Christ.

Most readers of the Bible understand that while God did things apparently against his people, he never ceased to love them or call them his own. Why can we not then recognize that sometimes others may offer constructive criticism, or refuse a request from us, without being against us?

A long running campaign against drunk driving once stated, “Friends don’t let friends drive drunk.”

Saying no may be the kindest, most loving thing we can do. Parents need to realize this. No child should be granted every whim or desire. Withholding some things does not indicate a lack of love.

Whichever position we are in, the giving or receiving end of negative responses, we must seek to understand the nature of true biblical love. That is, to seek and pursue the best interest of others. Sometimes that means dealing positively and generously to help in their needs. At other times however, it may mean saying no.

“Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).

—by Michael E. Brooks