Only One Sign For Eternal Life

"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." Matt 16:3 NIV

I was very young when my mother began teaching me some pretty cool things; especially if you live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. She taught me how not to get lost in the woods when picking wildflowers by observing the position of the sun or the moon and what side the moss grows on a tree. She taught me how to track, at least well enough to follow my own trail back out of the woods. She also taught me how to forecast the weather by watching the leaves on the trees or the color of the skies. She taught me "red skies at night, sailors' delight; red skies in the morning, sailors take warning."

When the Pharisees and Sadducees asked Jesus to show them a sign from heaven he told them there would be only one sign for them. That sign would be the sign of Jonah. The prophet Jonah, you might recall, had spent three days floating around in a watery abyss in the belly of a big fish. He had thought at the time that this would be his grave; his final resting place.

The sign that Jesus was referring to was that he, himself, would repeat the sign of Jonah. But, this time it would be for the salvation of all people; for all who would believe him. Three days he spent in the grave. He descended into hell. (1 Pet 3:18-20) And... just as Jonah was spit from the mouth of the fish to go and proclaim God's message to those nasty Ninevites that they might be saved and live; on the third day Jesus rose from the grave so that all who believe him would be saved and inherit eternal life.

God gave us many signs in creation to assist us in our daily lives. But, Jesus, is the only sign that we need for eternal life.

God's Peace - Pr. J

John 7:1-8 Show Yourself - Give The World A Sign

John 7:1-8 NIV
Show us a sign! Show the world a sign! Show yourself to the world that everyone might believe you! Jesus' own brothers did not believe in him. They tried to encourage Jesus to reveal all the works that he could do to the world. Isn't that what we want before we give our lives to follow him, as well? We want some spectacular miracle before we will believe and we want to see it with our own eyes. The testimony of others is not enough. The testimony of Scripture isn't even enough for many. They want to see a miracle. Well, all I can say is that in order to believe in Jesus, you are going to have to believe the testimony of Scripture. For in it is revealed the greatest, most awesome miracle of all.  Even though we dead in our sins, Jesus died for our sins; he descended into hell; then rose from the dead. He overcame death for us! Because he lives, so shall who believe in him. And, if that's not enough of a sign that Jesus is the Messiah: In full view of his disciples Jesus ascended into heaven.

Believe me, there are lesser signs than this all around us; but none so great as the work of the cross that Jesus accomplished for us.

May God open our eyes, our ears, our hearts, and minds that we might acknowledge this work (sign) that Jesus accomplished for us and then follow in his footsteps into the eternal kingdom.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 11:29-32 - Greatest Miracle

Luke 11:29-32 NIV
Everyone wants a sign. Everyone wants a miraculous sign before they will believe and follow in the footsteps of Jesus. One has already been given.

Just as Jonah was in the belly of the big fish for three days and was spit out to continue that mission to which the LORD had sent him on; the Son of Man was given up to the grave for three days. He rose from the dead and continues His mission of bringing the Good News of the Kingdom for all people; but, now through you. The greatest miracle is the resurrection to life eternal in that Kingdom through the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ.

No matter how many miracles an unbeliever will experience or see they will not be able to comprehend them as miracles. But, with the eyes of faith, we see all things miraculously achieved by the hand of God.

Believe, follow in His footsteps to eternal life in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 8:1-21 - Sign Of God's Will

The other day someone was lamenting that God was refusing to give them a sign to let them know what God's will was for them. They ask and ask for one, but God does not answer. Since they do not receive a sign from God to stop them from doing what they already know is wrong; they do it anyway. If you are one who is still waiting for a sign from God, let me remind you that God has already given us a sign of His purpose for us. Jesus Christ, Himself, is the sign. We can find His will for us in His Word.

The Pharisees wanted a sign from heaven. Jesus' response was to sigh deeply and say, "Why does this generation ask for a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to it.” (Mark 8:13 NIV)

The disciples find themselves, with Jesus, worried because they had no bread, with them, to eat. This was after they had witnessed him and even participated in feeding the multitudes with a handful of loaves and fish, twice. Twice! They witnessed this and they did not understand! There are signs all around us; signs of God's gracious love and concern for us. But, sometimes, our desires and our fears for ourselves keep us from seeing the mighty and loving acts of God. They keep us from hearing God's plan; His purpose for our lives.

Are we seeing it? Are we hearing it? Are we living according to God's plan for us? Or maybe we have chosen to be stubborn, since God hasn't seen fit to come to us and in an audible voice speak and tell us personally what we should or should not do, and do exactly the opposite of what God's Word tells us is His will for? God does speak to us. Just not in the way we're trying to dictate to God; but, He has made His will known to us. May God open our eyes to see; our ears to hear; and our hearts and minds to a greater understanding of His will for us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Ezekiel 12 - Ezekiel's Exile

"The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. 'Therefore, son of man, pack your belongings for exile and in the daytime, as they watch, set out and go from where you are to another place. Perhaps they will understand, though they are a rebellious people.'" (Ezekiel 12:1-2 NIV)

"Son, of man, you are living among a rebellious people." Now, if that isn't the truth! It is truth not just for the days of Ezekiel, but for today, as well. With eyes that do not see and ears that refuse to hear, we continue on our own path, refusing to follow in the Way that has been set before us, frustrating more than one pastor, more than one shepherd.

The LORD tells Ezekiel to dig a hole in the wall and act like he's going into exile. Did it work? Did it change the people's minds about whom they should worship? Would it work today? Perhaps, but probably not. I've seen more than one Pastor go into exile (leave) and the people cheer. They celebrate because the one who left had been so adamant about proclaiming the Word of the LORD and would not please their itching ears is gone. He/she had not been interested in the people's agenda, only God's. The people lament that they cannot keep a pastor; that they go through pastor after pastor, one every two or three years; yet, they cannot begin to imagine that maybe they had something to do with it. It must be the Bishop's fault for sending them pastors who just don't have a heart for the congregation.

Well, Ezekiel doesn't really leave. He pretends to as a sign, as a warning, that the people will go into exile. They will lose God's temple because of their closed eyes and ears. May God open our eyes and our hearts and our minds, that we might see and hear His truth that His people might desire to worship only Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Isaiah 7 - Promise of Sign; Immanuel

Judah is in trouble. Ahaz, the king, is in trouble. Judah is about to be invaded. The LORD sends  Isaiah to him with a promise of hope. The LORD spoke to him, through Isaiah, the promise of a sign, who is Immanuel, in spite of the fact that Ahaz was worshipped other gods. Ahaz... "Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel and also made idols for worshiping the Baals. He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and sacrificed his children in the fire, engaging in the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.  (2 Chron 28:1b-4 NIV)

The LORD gives this promise of of a sign of hope to this wretched sinner. He has given us this sign. He has given us Immanuel, God with us, in Jesus Christ. It is interesting to note that even though God wanted to help Ahaz, Ahaz never gave up his false gods and turned to worship the one true God. Will we?

For those who aren't reading the Bible, please read it. There is so much that you will miss if you don't. But, for the benefit of those who will not, I'm including the verses that are most familiar from this chapter to so many...  "Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."  (Isa 7:13-14)

God's Peace - Pr. J

"If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all." (Isa 7:9b)