54 He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'It's going to rain,' and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, 'It's going to be hot,' and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don't know how to interpret this present time?
How are we at interpreting “this present time” regarding the spiritual signs of our day? If we are ignorant in this, and yet have the ability to ascertain whether it is going to rain or be hot by using the sky and the wind as our measure, Jesus calls us hypocritical – pretenders, counterfeits, feigned characters. Jesus taught the crowds of His day that they should be able to discern that He was indeed the Messiah. Enough prophecy fulfilled, enough miracles accomplished, enough Truth displayed for them to be able to rightly perceive clearly. How much more so in our day on this side of Calvary? Dear friends, we need not possess a blind faith! Peter tells us:
16 We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 2 Peter 1:16 (NIV)
The apostle John adds to this:
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)
Again John states:
13 We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. 1 John 4:13-16 (NIV)
In a sense, we too can be “eyewitnesses of His majesty” which is made manifest in the midst of a loving Christian community. As believers, our bodies are the temple of God. We are sealed with the precious Holy Spirit in our “jars of clay”. Paul tells us:
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 2 Cor 4:7-11 (NIV)
Sadly, many professing believers fail to demonstrate a Christlike love or manifest the fruit that accompanies a saving faith. Indeed, James, Paul, John and Peter (not to mention Jesus Himself) would take issue with their profession. While sin will never be totally obliterated prior to Jesus’ return, the believer’s life should be a progression towards the goal of Christlikeness. If we are not, Paul says we should examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith:
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 2 Cor 13:5-6 (NIV)
As believers, our lives should hold up to such scrutiny. Do our lives demonstrate that we are in the faith? Does our walk match our talk? Scripture stresses the importance of this.
“There must be a practical outworking of our faith here in this present world, or it will never endure in the world to come. We need fewer words and more charitable works; less palaver and more pity; less repetition of creed and more compassion.” Billy Graham
In regard to being able to interpret the spiritual signs in our day, we must be on guard if we continue to hear truth yet not accept it. If one keeps hardening their heart towards truth, rejecting and rejecting when so clearly presented, that person should beware – the opportunity may pass. Paul tells us:
1 As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 For he says,
"In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 6:1-2 (NIV)
“Grace is the grand and only resource for us all. It is the basis of our salvation; the basis of a life of practical godliness; and the basis of those imperishable hopes which animate us amid the trials and conflicts of this sin-stricken world. May we cherish a deeper sense of grace, and more ardent desire for glory!” C H MacIntosh, 1860, Notes on Leviticus