April 14, 2020
““When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” - Matthew 16:2,3
I’m not sure exactly when it happened, but a transformation took place in my life, and I wasn’t even aware of it. I became that guy. I became the guy who needs coffee in the morning, and who possesses a strong desire to watch the morning news. The highlight of this morning ritual, other than my quiet time with the Lord, is the weather forecast. My favorite meteorologists are Ginger Zee from Good Morning America and Lee Goldberg from Eyewitness News. (I am embarrassed to admit that I have favorite meteorologists, but hey...it is what it is.) I think the weather forecast is very important, and I rely on it to help me make decisions about my day. If it is cloudy, then perhaps I will bring an umbrella. If its sunny, then perhaps I will go for a brisk 2-mile run (lol!!!). Whenever I hear the weather forecast I feel confident, prepared, and ready for what the day will bring. I wouldn’t want to get caught in the rain unprepared.
In Matthew chapter 16, Jesus used the idea of weather forecasting as a powerful example of discernment. Within the context of this passage of scripture, the spiritual leaders of Christ’s day had a desire for Jesus to show them a supernatural sign to prove to them that he was a man of spiritual authority. This would not have been a difficult task for Jesus, but instead, he spoke to them about the weather. He said, “When it is evening, you say, ‘it will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:2,3). With this statement, Jesus communicated to them that he would not perform another sign. In fact, he had already performed enough signs for them to understand that he was a man of spiritual authority. For the last two years, news of Jesus’ exploits were being reported throughout the region. Blinded eyes have been opened and the deaf miraculously hear. Demons have been cast out of numerous people, and the cripple walk. The prophecies of the prophets of old were being fulfilled, and the spiritual leaders were in a position to see and understand all of these things. It was time for them to “interpret the signs of the times”.
That word “interpret” in Greek is “diakrino”, and it means to judge or to discern something that would lead to making a choice. The word describes a process of gathering enough facts about an issue or a situation, and then making a rational decision based on evidence. When the meteorologist gives a forecast based on computer models and pressure systems, they are able to report the possible weather scenarios for that day. They compile the data given to them from their weather instruments and computers models and then they interpret the “signs” that result in a forecast.
Brothers and sisters, I believe that this season that we are currently experiencing should not be regarded as a “typical” season. From the rapid succession of natural disasters to the global outbreak of a deadly coronavirus, I believe that this is not “normal weather”. As believers, we should be able to discern and interpret the “signs” of the times. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, scripture gives us a pretty clear forecast of the times that we are living in:
“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;”
The drastic decline of biblical morality is evident, and at times, it seems as if the church would rather argue politics, or fight among ourselves. I firmly believe that this is a season where we should all pay attention to the forecast. If there are things in your life that needs to be set right before the Lord, then now is the time to do it. If there are issues between you and your family members, then now is the time to make it right. If there is unconfessed sin in your life, then now is the time for confession and repentance. We may not know the exact time of when the rain is going to fall, but the Lord does give us a pretty good forecast. Don’t get caught in the rain.
Don’t Get Caught in the Rain!
Now that’s Good Word!
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