Unless You See Signs and Wonders?

John 4:43-54

Now after the two days He departed from there and went to Galilee. For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things He did in Jerusalem at the feast.

So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implores Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."

The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him saying, "Your son lives."

Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him." So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your sin lives." And he himself believed, and his whole household.

This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.

What is it with us that we cannot always just take God at His word? The Bible is filled with examples of miracles and signs that God/Jesus performed. In the Old Testament God performed miracles, set people free, provided for them, kept them safe in extreme circumstances. There were always good reasons for these things. That He would be glorified, that people's faith would enlarge, that trust in Him would grow. Yet, some still forgot or wandered away from Him just the same. There are still good reasons and the reason are still the same!

God also had prophets to speak of things that would occur. Some of these prophetic words have yet to be seen but it does not mean they won't. If we have read about the prophecies that took place shouldn't we have faith? If God told us a child would be born of a virgin and it occurred, then we should believe all that was written, even about last days and Jesus' return.

The New Testament brought about another hope and miracles performed by this Baby born of a virgin. Greater than all the prophets He was. He spoke of Himself and had the proof. It's recorded for us that we might know and believe.

But why is it that people still don't believe? Like Jesus said, "Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe."  Even the littlest things can be signs and miracles. I can look back in my life and see before I knew Christ where I could have been in some rough situations or harmed in some way, but I wasn't. I believe it was God's hand upon me because He had other plans for my life...even if they are not earth shattering. But if one person is changed somehow, hey, great. There might be a situation that does not go well, is difficult, painful, because He wants to build our faith and use this testimony in someone else's life some day. God is in control. He's the same today as He was yesterday...something I say a lot!

It's sometimes easy to say doctors healed someone with their medicine. But what about the wisdom God imparts to the doctor? And we have to be careful not to always place the emphasis upon a person healing someone. It is always God's power through a person. He is always in control. If man takes the credit for a miracle isn't that like saying he is God? Shouldn't all praise be to God?

God never changes. He performed miracles and brought about signs all throughout the Bible. It was for them to believe and trust in Him. Yet today many don't recognize signs. Or we give credit where credit is not due. Have we become a people who will not believe unless we see a sign? What about just believing in those things we do not see? The example of the nobleman is great (and there are others). Jesus proved He could heal just by speaking a word, not by touching the son. He only told the nobleman to go his way. And I ask, isn't the Book filled with similar examples of miracles and healings? We should believe because of that!

Believe because He is who He says He is!

1Peter 1:7-9 - that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Watch!!

Acts 2:19-20 - I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

This just seemed an appropriate post after all the parables about the Kingdom of God and who will enter into it and what we must do to be sure we do!

There have been many articles, blog posts, warnings and/or words about the imminent return of Christ. Some do not believe He will return, some believe it will still be some time from now if ever, while others believe it could be very soon. Even pastors in various pulpits, even some unbelievers, think something is up and that we are in the last days.

I do not presume to know when He will return and would use caution to anyone saying they knew for sure when, but I certainly believe, and write here occasionally, how it is of utmost importance that we know our heart's spiritual condition now and do something about it now because...“of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father...and...in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet...the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left.” (Mark 13:32, 1Corinthians 15:52, Luke 17:35-36)

Our salvation is based on one thing alone, our true heart's repentance followed by confession of our sin directly to Jesus. Because He is omniscient He will know our heart's attitude, whether we mean it or not. When Jesus returns will we be taken or will we be left wherever we are? This is the way it will be when He returns, that I will promise. Our old, earthly bodies, if we have received Christ, will be changed...from corruptible to incorruptible. There will be no pain, no sickness, no sorrow, no tears after He returns for those who have received Him. The same is not true for unbelievers. Like the previous parables, there is a separation of good from bad.

Again, we do not know when He will return and some say, Well, it's been a long time since He said, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last” (Revelation 22:12-13) while others will say He hasn't shown up yet; I'm not gonna worry about it. It's all talk.

But I just want to throw this out there. We are told there will be signs, like mentioned above. Just a thought...if you haven't heard, there will be four lunar eclipses coming up in the next two years. An article describes them as four consecutive total lunar eclipses, known as a tetrads. They are called blood moons because of the color we see at the time of the eclipse.

I also tend to view articles on such things with caution knowing we have been burned before by prognosticators telling us Christ will return on a certain date and, again, I will not say that. But I find these articles interesting. I will put them on a shelf in my mind. This particular article tells us the blood moons coincide with Jewish feast days. These eclipses are looked at on the Jewish calendar, God's calendar, not ours. (I think about the scripture that says His ways are not like ours...) And these eclipses do, according to findings, fall on those feasts. These are Feasts of the Lord and I'm not an expert on them, have always been important to God and His people, Israel, and Israel is an important factor in the last days.

Rather than try to sort out the article, please read it yourself...here's the link. There are two videos as
well. I am not endorsing the any product they sell. All I'm saying is we cannot know when He will
return...but we are to watch for signs, which God has previously shown us will be.

These articles seem to think that there's a good chance (chance) the last days before the return of Christ will follow these signs. The article I've linked states NASA had a link on their site referencing these blood moons but took it down when some other article began describing the blood moons and the return of Christ. (On the same day as WND’s report, Feb. 12, NASA took down its site which for years provided detailed information and schedules about upcoming eclipses.)

Additional signs listed in the Bible are already here. They've been escalating since, I believe, the 50's or 60's. This world is in serious trouble and you can laugh or mock, but if you look closely, you can't say it hasn't...at least I hope you can see. If not, you may want to ask God to help you to see...if you want to. It's your choice. But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (2Timothy 3:1-4) 

I just say all this to point out, it isn't too late to be sure of your salvation. I would want to be sure today about my future tomorrow, or the next day, or even on my last day, if He does not return before my last day. I do not think of this as a doom and gloom message. For believers it is a hallelujah moment! To be of the generation to see His coming, despite the trials we will encounter before then, and we are already experiencing, is exciting. If you put all things in perspective you can see that while we are living each day as it comes along, all things fade in comparison to the idea that Jesus is returning for His pure and spotless bride. Will you join the ranks?

He is like the man below who has gone to a far country...and will return. Is He your Master? Are you asleep? Or are you watching for His return?

Mark 13:33-37 - Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!

Consider Noah

Genesis 7:1 - Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation."

Wow. God spoke to Noah. God told him He considered him righteous. God picked the right man for the right job.

Noah was brave. He was definitely a man of faith. He heard God speak, he listened and most importantly, he obeyed. He obeyed even though others thought he was out of his mind. And look where it took him...being righteous in God's eyes.

We are living in that perverse generation the Bible tells us about. Philippians 2:15-16 surprisingly says Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children  of  God above reproach in the midst of a crooked  and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights  in the world. 

Noah went ahead with the task set before him without questioning God, without grumbling about the amount of time it would take to build an ark, without really knowing what lay ahead. He just did it. He listened daily to the commands. He obeyed God despite the people around him. He told anyone and everyone the reason for the ark and that God had called him to do this. But they scoffed. 

No one wanted to listen to Noah speak the things God had told him to warn them about. They wanted to keep their heads in the sand. As Noah and his family gathered all the animals into the ark awaiting the great flood, the others, as later mentioned in Matthew:  were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. When the waters rose and they realized their dilemma and their choice not to listen, they pleaded with Noah for safety. But it was too late. Too late.

I sort of see this with Glenn Beck! He's about as in your face about warnings as they come. The Church should be doing the same thing. We as Christians who believe we are seeing the signs, as in the days of Noah, should be vocal as well. We know what this will mean. It will mean we will be considered as nuts as Noah was. We've heard it all before...Christ says He's going to return, but I don't see it...Yeah, right!! If people don't want to hear or heed, another day will come that it, too, will be too late.

His return is a mystery to us. That's why the Bible tells us we are to be prepared now. We are not to wait until it's too late. We are to have faith and believe what God says...one being to believe in Him so you will not perish and have eternal life (John 3:16). There are few people who receive Christ and regret it later. Some walk away but I can't help but feel there is a nagging in their souls knowing they've turned their backs on God. Once you get a taste... 

We are told For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be (Matthew 24:27). All I can hope is that there will be yet another sign of sorts that will stir people into just maybe believing that God is truly in control of all things. We might be seeing the signs right now.  He could be getting ready to return. The Bible, on the other hand, talks about needing to see signs instead of just having faith. Signs are what people desire. That thing we can put our fingers on. Matthew 16:4 says An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign... The Pharisees and Saducees wanted Jesus to give them divine signs from heaven as proof He was who He said. His answer was above and He refused their request. They'd seen his healings but they wanted more. Is that what's happening today?

For Noah and his family, they experienced the loss of all life but their own and the animals they gathered. God separated them, like He still does today. He separates believers and their beliefs from those who do not want to believe. Noah and his family saw the land God had given them destroyed. Oh, the days ahead for this family. Genesis 8:1 says "then God remembered Noah and every living thing within the ark." He remembered! Not that He really forgot. He knew just what He was doing. But it was finally time for a rebuilding of this earth. Imagine the faith Noah now had in this awesome God. How could one forget what He just did?

The great flood, the waters...we are cleansed by water. Although we are told God will never cause another flood to destroy this earth, it has been suggested that fire may be the next thing that consumes...2Peter 3:7: By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. God is known as a consuming fire. But if we consider Noah and heed God's warnings and obey and trust in the Lord, like Noah we will be considered righteous and saved.

If history repeats itself, and I think we all believe this, then maybe we should pay attention to the signs today. Take a step to believe what God has told us, how examples have been set before us to heed. Receive Christ, receive wisdom, receive truth and understanding. Let's not be counted among those Jude talks about:

Jude 1:18 - ... "In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires."