40 Days of Lint, Day Thirty-One: Reading the Signs




Nimbostratus clouds

Have you ever noticed when we don’t know what to talk about, we usually end up discussing the weather? Here in Oregon it’s a somewhat baffling topic. Even the forecasters struggle to nail down firm predictions of what it’s going to do from day to day, even hour to hour. Here at the coast, our weather changes throughout the day, according to wind currents and amount of humidity.



Altostratus clouds

I checked out Web Weather for Kids (http://eo.ucar.edu/webweather/stratus.html ) and got a basic education on what different cloud formations mean. (There’s a fun matching game to play too!) The most common cloud types are Stratus, Altostratus, Cirrus, and Cumulous. Each one has distinct characteristics that tell us what we might expect from the weather at any given moment. I now know that what we witness many days of the year in Tillamook are Nimbostratus clouds – gray with continually falling rain.

However, as intriguing as all that is, Jesus warns us not to limit ourselves to “weather mentality.”
 

“‘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” (Matthew 16:2-3).

The gospel of Luke adds, “He said to the crowd: ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, “It’s going to rain,” and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, “It’s going to be hot,” and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?’” (Luke 12:54-56).

Apparently our generation is not the first to be distracted by the weather. It makes sense to be curious about it and want to make plans accordingly. No one wants to take the day off to work in the yard, only to have it pour down rain, or worse yet, hail! Since my husband is a contractor, he’s an avid weather watcher. He tries to match work locations day by day, depending on whether it will be wet or dry. If all goes well, they can be inside when it’s nasty and work outside in good weather.

What if we who call ourselves Christians were this intent on watching the signs of our times? How many of us are aware of the prophecies that have already been fulfilled? Do we know what’s happening in our world today that shows Jesus’ second coming is eminent? Do we read the Bible as voraciously as we watch the news, Internet, or radio for information?

In Jesus’ day, many missed their promised Messiah, because they didn’t know the scriptures; they misinterpreted what it says about Him. Today, we not only have Old Testament prophesies, but New Testament revelation to see God’s plan at work. The question is are we looking? Will we comprehend what God is up to in our day and be ready for His return?

Lint Removed: Weather Mentality

Cleaning Process: Looking Beyond the Clouds