Signs of the Times

Are you good at reading the signs of the times?

Jesus said you know how to forecast the weather by observing the cloud formations, but your cannot interpret the signs of the times in which you live.

Some live where they spend a lot of time during the year watching the weather reports for the tropical storms and hurricane tracking, but very few people are preparing themselves for eternity.

The context of the illustration was a day in which Sadducees and Pharisees came to Jesus asking for a “sign from heaven.” After referring to their ability to forecast the weather by looking at the sky, He said He would give them only one sign, “the sign of Jonah.” Then Jesus told His disciples, “Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

The word Pharisees means “separated ones.” They lived their daily lives in strict observance of the Law of Moses and the oral commandments of the scribes. They believed all the right things as Jewish people. They would have been outstanding citizens and good church members in our day.

Why was their teaching wrong? Basically it was the way they handled the Scriptures. They wanted to manipulate the signs so they could have their preconceived kind of political Messiah. Jesus' teachings and their political ideas clashed. Their interpretations were wrong.

The Pharisees believed in revelation of God, but they wanted to add their own humanistic legalistic teaching to God’s revelation. Jesus came with the good news of God’s pure saving grace, but they thought they could earn a right relationship with God with their good works.

On the other hand, the Sadducees took away from God’s revelation. They refused to believe God’s Word, miracles, angels and the resurrection of the dead. Their agenda was whoever dies with the most toys in this life wins. They used religion to accomplish that goal.

The Pharisees tried to live by the law rather than by God’s free grace. They wanted to add to Christ’s work by their own good works and virtue. Trying to live by good works and be justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is completely incompatible.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were unable to understand because they did not want to understand. They refused to believe on Christ.

How will we survive in a wicked and adulterous generation in which we live?

The only sign our generation needs is the sign of Jonah which is a reference to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

People are unable to believe on Jesus Christ today because they do not want to believe on Him.

We live in evil times and we need to be saved. The world system in which we live is hostile to Jesus Christ and His righteousness by grace through faith. Jesus said, “I have chosen you out of the world” (Jn. 15:19). The present age is evil and hates God’s revelation in His Word and Jesus Christ.

However, the Bible is very clear that today is the day of salvation. God has done everything for you in the death of Christ and on that basis is ready to pardon and forgive you of all your sins.

God has given us time to repent and believe on Christ and be saved. However, the time of opportunity is drawing to an end. It is time to repent and turn to Christ. Your opportunity will not last forever. The day of God’s judgment will come and it will be too late. Your opportunity to be saved will be gone and you will be lost forever.

Are you able to interpret the signs of the times well enough to repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation? Your salvation now is nearer than when we first believed. Believe on Him today and be saved. "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).


by Wil Pounds (http://royj788.multiply.com/journal/item/437)