DAD’S RAMBLINGS – UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES

"Then He also said to the multitudes, 'Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, "A shower is coming"' and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, "There will be hot weather," and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?' " (Luke 12:54-56)

Jesus was not being a meteorologist. I have often thought that meteorology would be a good occupation. It is the only career I know where you can be wrong so often, and still keep your job. No, Jesus was giving a picture to the people of His day who did not recognize the times they were living in. It was the time of the appearing of their Messiah. He gave them sign after sign, and they did not connect the dots.  Jesus called them hypocrites – because they taught that a Messiah would come, but they did not accept Him when He did come.

Our weather in Arizona is not the same as it was in Israel. In Arizona we know that there will be moisture in the clouds when the winds come from the south, from the Baja. Monsoons are predictable.  There are Monsoons on the horizon in our world, and the person who sees the signs and understands the times makes preparations for them. We need not be surprised by the storms that follow the signs.

In the Old Testament, among the soldiers of war that served King David, there were "the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" (I Chronicles 12:32). They could be a model for us.

May God make us into "sons of Issachar" who understand the times we live in. When we see the signs, we know that in God's eternal purpose, time for this world is running out. He is giving us warnings. May God help us to discern the times we live in, and then live accordingly.

Love, Dad