Thought for Today
Genesis 1:14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night; and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years,
Jeremiah 32:20 You showed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all humankind, and have made yourself a name that continues to this very day.
Matthew 16:2 "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.
John 2:11 Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
What are the signs of our times? Ask 100 people and you will get more than 100 different answers. The earliest recorded histories of humanity include attempts to read the signs of the times. Our ancestors looked for signs in the stars (astrology), for signs in the weather patterns, in the entrails of slain animals, in the dispersal patterns of the smoke from incense and countless other indicators as portends of what is to come. Oracles have been consulted, divinations attempted. The accuracy, claimed or actual, has always been spotty at best.
We are, of course, now much more sophisticated than our ancestors. We have statistical analysis of polling data to predict almost everything, from election results to the potential commercial success of new products. Locations for new stores and factories are selected on careful analysis of population patterns and economic conditions. Yet, despite poll predictions, favored candidates lose and locations sometimes prove unsuccessful.
Some years ago the science fiction author and famed biochemist and professor wrote The Foundation Novels. In his fascinating series, the psychohistorian Hari Sheldon develops a body of mathematical equations that can predict the future. He establishes the Foundation, an organization to monitor and maintain the equations and their predictions. If you find the premise intriguing, I’ll leave it to you to read the novels without any spoiler alerts.
In 1970, the American ‘futurist’ Alvin Toffler wrote the book Future Shock. I had never heard the word ‘futurist’ prior to reading that book. For a time following the success of that book, futurists were the darlings of the media. Then and now, the profession of ‘futurist’ seems to me a modern version of the Magi of scripture.
Scripture does tell us about signs and about magi, σημείων (say may own) and μάγοι (mag oui). Our English word magic has roots in the Greek μάγοι. My lexicon tells me that Greek word comes from a Persian word meaning great. It referred to the high priestly caste of Persia, wise men of the Magian religion. It also was used to refer to magicians, sorcerers and anyone using witchcraft or magical arts.
Divinators, astrologers, futurists, pollsters, seers and prognosticators all claim to foretell the future, to be able to read the signs of the times. Can anyone truly, accurately foresee the future? I can accurately predict that as soon as I finish writing this, I will eat the breakfast I will prepare. I can accurately predict what that breakfast will be, since I almost always eat the same breakfast on Tuesdays. But what will follow that is subject to many potential variables. The phone may ring, bringing some need or crisis to our attention and destroying any plans we have for this day.
Where does all of this leave us as Christians? What is our refuge when we read those words of Jesus above from Matthew? Maybe more importantly, do we even need to worry about reading the signs of the times?
The one defining characteristic of all Christians must be our faith in Jesus, the Christ. His apostle Paul reminds us that we are saved by our faith in Jesus, freely gifted to us through the grace of God. Jesus himself assures us, “John 14:2 In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” We don’t need to read the signs; we don’t need to predict the future; we just need to believe.
Stay safe, have faith, trust God,
Pastor Ray