Discernment: Interpreting the Times

“He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, A shower is coming.  And so it happens.  And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, There will be scorching heat, and it happens.  You hypocrites!  You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?’”  -Luke 12:54-57 (ESV).

The statement of Jesus in these verses is set in the midst of His discourse on how he came to bring division among men.  Scholars have interpreted this to mean that there will be major disagreement between believers in Jesus Christ, those who seek to follow Him and incorporate His principles and lifestyle into their living and those who do not believe Him.  On some of the major news channels even today there was discussion about differences in what the newscasters call “atheists” (nonbelivers) and Christians.  The calculations were based upon what reporters called “The Pew Report”—those who attend church services regularly in America and those who do not.  How accurate this report is we do not know, or if those who do not attend can be termed “atheists.”  But the statistics from this “Pew Report” show that at least 40% of adult Americans do not express any religious preference or attend an organized church.  Whether these statistics are correct or not, I do not know.  But one thing we can know assuredly is that there will be differences (divisions) between those who follow the Lord Christ and those who don’t. 

Perhaps Christ looked up and saw a cloud rising over the Sea of Galilee.  Or one would come from the direction of the Mediterranean Sea.  Both would indicate rain.  Likewise a wind blowing from the desert area of the south would bring scorching heat.  In those days long before Doppler radar to help forecast the weather, these signs of approaching changes would be noted with interest.  I can remember how my father often predicted the weather by signs he noted.  He would plan his work on the farm accordingly and try to get jobs done before severe weather ensued.  Jesus noted that his hearers were adept at interpreting natural signs for the weather, but the spiritual emptiness of their hypocrisy blinded them from understanding the “signs of the times.”  He followed by giving a parable of the importance of settling disagreements before being dragged into court.  “Why do you not judge for yourselves?” he asked (v. 57).  I think He would urge us today to discern the consequences by the signs of the times.

Discernment does not always come easily but results when we weigh “the signs of the times,” consider the good and the bad and the consequences of both.  We are living in what my parents would term “perilous times.”  The signs are evident on every hand that we have departed from the precepts of righteousness and the covenant relationship with God.  In this period of uniting in prayer for America, we need to be reminded daily of Jesus’ probing words:  “Why do you not judge for yourselves?”  Likewise, we need to heed seriously and sincerely the conditions and promise of 2 Chronicles 7:14:  “If my people who are called by My name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  We need to hear this strong appeal repeated until we are very much aware of its conditions and can sincerely meet them.  May we be among the faithful with spiritual discernment and determined action to do just that.

Prayer.  Lord, the statistics for America’s faithfulness to You are not good.  May we be among the faithful who turn in repentance and faith.  May we be discerning in our choices for leaders and stalwart in our stand for righteousness.  We pray that You will hear from heaven and heal our land.  Amen.