Sign of the Times

I'm sure you have heard this familiar expression, "It is just another sign of the times." Most people don't realize that many of the expressions that we use in common speech have their origin in the bible. I suppose many of you have heard the saying, "Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning." Well, it comes from the bible. Jesus actually used it as an example to illustrate that he would one day return from the dead which would be the only sign needed that he truly was the Son of God.
He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away. (Matthew 16)

Today this familiar expression means that the world around us is changing and growing ever more dark as Jesus predicted it would prior to his coming again; a "sign of the times" in an indicator that we are growing closer to Jesus' return as evidenced by the way our world is going. By contrast, while the world is going in one direction, God is doing something entirely different with his church. He is using this time to prepare his bride, making her into a church that is authentic, pure, and living for his return. Our current 'signs of the times' are believers who put Jesus first. First before any job. First before any possession. First before anything else in their lives. Those kind of believers are like billboards to this generation that Jesus is alive, and he is coming back. This is the kind of church God is preparing; this is the kind of believer God is molding me to be, although sometimes difficult.

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks." John 4:23
What is worshiping in Spirit and truth? It is going where God tells you to, laying down on his altar what he asks, and loving him completely. No matter what. 
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true act of worship." Rom 12:1

I've mentioned before that God has told us to sell our home. Let me tell you, when this year began that was definitely not part of my plan. But part of this journey has involved a constant dialogue with him regarding being willing to lay things down in my life on my altar of worship. Sometimes I placed them there, only to try to keep part for myself. ( A future post regarding this.) Other times, I've laid it there willingly but with eyes full of tears. I do feel though that this is what we are called to do and I know that God will eventually bless my obedience. Now to pray that it sells quickly! For us, it is a 'sign of the times' of what God is doing in our hearts and lives and ultimately in his church of believers. My prayer is that our obedience is sign to those around us; he is alive, he is coming back and he is looking for true worshipers.