“CAN YE NOT DISCERN THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES?”
By T.
“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather; for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day; for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” Matt. 16:1–4. The Master was on the earth doing a mighty work. He was speaking as never man spake. Miracles, in the healing of the sick, giving7sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf, were attesting the reality of His divine power. And shining above it all was the wonderful life that He was living among them. His words were the clear, sweet music of purity and righteousness. His every act was the perfection of kindness, gentleness, and love. His daily life in this sinful world was as great a miracle as the healing of the sick and the raising of the dead. All this was being done and lived by the Master in the very midst of these Pharisees and Sadducees, and still they wanted “a sign from heaven.” Surely the greatest sign that heaven could give was right among them in active life. What more could heaven show them after the love of God had sent His own dear Son? The hearts of these Pharisees and Sadducees had been touched. They saw that none other than the Son of God could do these mighty works. And their consciences were pricking them. But they pretended not to understand these mighty works of the Son of the Infinite, and as they sought to make a show of honesty, they asked a sign from heaven. O, yes, they would like to be made perfectly sure that He was the Christ! And so they wanted a special sign right from heaven. The Lord reminds them that they could discern the signs of the sky. They could forecast the probable conditions of the weather for several hours ahead. And in doing this they had to use only their common faculties. They had observed that a “red” sky in the evening was an indication of fair weather, while a “red and lowering” sky in the morning was an evidence of foul weather. Now if they had been equally as observing of the work and life of Christ, and also had been willing to yield to what their judgment showed them was the truth, they would have had no trouble. The evidence was all there, and it was overwhelmingly abundant. The Master’s works, His divine teaching, and His perfect life were greater signs than anything that could have been hung out in the sky. But their curiosity for “a sign from heaven” was not granted. The evidence already offered was sufficient. “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” The prophets had foretold the work of Christ. Infinite wisdom had given these prophecies, and they were all-sufficient. Every man and woman who did not resist the prophetic truth by their pride and prejudice could see the perfect clearness and the perfect application of all these prophecies that were being fulfilled in the life of the Messiah. And how fitting it is, then, that the Lord should have said that “no sign shall be given, . . . but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” We are living now in times that are even more momentous than those days when Christ was upon earth in person. We are just a little time from the day when He will come the second time in the clouds of heaven. We are living, even now, in the very last of the last days. The whole world is charged with the evidence that shows it. Fulfilling prophecies are emblazoned all around us. The wonders and perplexities of this time have never before been seen in all of this world’s history. And just as Christ when on earth in person spake, and lived as never man had spoken and lived, even so now are prophecies being fulfilled with a significant impressiveness the like of which the world has never seen. Do you discern the signs of these our times? It is very easy to see where past generations have failed in not discerning the signs of their times. And it is just as easy to see the signs of our own times if we will only look at the present in the same unbiased way that we look at the past. You have observed that in every generation there are men who seem to read the signs of their times perfectly. They seem to be clear in their accurate interpretation of the meaning of the issues and events of their day. “Why is this?” I hear you ask, It is simply because they ardently sought for the simple, plain truth, and when they found it they took it, no matter whether it looked just as they had expected it would or not. Your mind has been impressed by the stirring scenes of our days. You have been awed and impressed before the great social and political problems, dilemmas, and evils that stare our whole world in the face. Do you honestly ask for the meaning of it all? Then turn to your Bibles and you will surely read the signs of these times in the words of inspired apostles and prophets. But when you hear the still small voice of God speaking to you in His Word, do not spurn it. Do not be like the Pharisees of old and seek for signs that God has not given. Be content with the plain Word of God. Its great prophetic truths are perfectly clear. We could not ask for more. Will you discern the signs of this our time? If you do, and heed them, it will only be just a little while until Jesus will have you fitted for a place in His everlasting kingdom, and then come in person to take you to His blissful home. These are momentous hours. Do not idle them away.