9-11-17<\/p>\n
Our recent visits here have centered on phenomena of nature \u2013 hurricanes, floods, wildfires, rare solar eclipses, and, before them, Donald Trump. And parts of America, we tend to forget, are still in drought conditions. Further, other hurricane systems wait patiently behind the paths of Harvey and Irma.<\/p>\n
I am not making light of them \u2013 some day a wildfire, a flood, and an eclipse might all descend on me at once \u2013 but it does occur to me that some people might make too<\/em> much of them.<\/p>\n I am referring to some Christians, and I refer to theological subtexts. I cannot gainsay peoples’ scholarship nor their prayerful conclusions about what the Bible has said, or what God might be saying, to America through these phenomena.<\/p>\n Are these Signs? Bible history is replete with examples of God speaking to His people. Actually, to all the human race: judgment and destruction to wicked generations and sinful peoples. Rebukes and chastisement to His wayward children. Rules via the Ten Commandments; the plan of Salvation through Christ\u2019s atonement.<\/p>\n Often the judgments and sometimes the punishments were preceded by signs, natural phenomena, and prophesies.<\/p>\n God ordained some of these signs, even numerology and divination by dreams. But the Bible has also warned against \u201csigns and wonders\u201d \u2013 at least against our looking for them, if not to them. In the End Times they will appear in accordance with prophesies of the Apostolic Times and Old Testament days.<\/p>\n But \u2013 here I wonder about signs and wonders \u2013 not too many prophesies\u00a0since<\/em> the time of Jesus.<\/p>\n That persuades me to think about \u201csigns\u201d my brethren and sisters see today. Are they correct, that a solar eclipse, for instance, portends the Final Judgment? Are End Times finally here, signaled by wildfires in the Northwest and hurricanes in the Southeast?<\/p>\n I am persuaded against the idea. Oh, I think we might be at End Times\u2026 and sometimes I wish we were. Do we deserve judgment in America? If not (I am also persuaded) Sodom and Gomorrah could demand apologies.<\/p>\n But\u2026 are America\u2019s sins black enough to bring the whole world into judgment? Can the expanding Church south of the Equator be a momentary expiation in God\u2019s eyes for humankind\u2019s rebellion, or the spiritual sins of North America and Europe?<\/p>\n In short, I wonder whether well-meaning students of the Bible might be focusing more on Signs… than what they think the signs might be signaling (the same root word). In fact I have asked such questions of armchair eschatologists, who often have replied \u2013 as if it should be plain for me to see \u2013 that signs have been sent by God to help us see our sins\u2026 to point to abominations in His eyes\u2026 to warn of coming judgment.<\/p>\n What is plain for me to see, actually, is something different.<\/p>\n Unless judgment is nigh, signs (and wonders) is not how God has dealt with humankind since Jesus\u2019 day. I believe in gifts of wisdom and prophecy; and I know that ancient prophetic visions were given to be fulfilled some day. And that day might be soon.<\/p>\n However, fellow saints, we are horribly failing our God, His call on our lives, indeed the Great Commission, if we continually look for signs. Jesus was<\/em> the sign!<\/p>\n Do you seek a sign of coming judgment? Look to pictures of mutilated and aborted babies in your local hospitals.<\/p>\n Do you seek a sign of coming judgment? Look at the suffering and the poor, “the lame, the halt, the blind” all around us.<\/p>\n Do you seek a sign of coming judgment? Look around the world, and in our own nation, where persecution of Christians is on the rise.<\/p>\n Do you seek a sign of coming judgment? Look at the Land of the Free and the Home of abuse, trafficking, drugs, divorces, sexual perversion, and twisted values in schools and the media.<\/p>\n Do you seek a sign of coming judgment? Look at many of our churches, where relativism and secularism have replaced the Gospel; where the Bible is no longer honored as the Infallible Word of God; where His Son is not lifted up as our incarnate Savior.<\/p>\n Signs and wonders. Let us leave cosmic coincidences to astronomers, and weather reports to meteorologists and TV reporters. The signs of our corrupt times are all around us, and we should not need to be reminded of this proper perspective… because we ourselves have allowed these conditions to take hold.<\/p>\n + + +<\/p>\n