Fickle February. It is the first of February on the Eastern Seaboard of the United States. Our temperatures have run above normal. The “news” is filled exclamations about the warmth of the winter–from little town media to the national broadcast companies. Sure enough, the temperatures have been warm enough in spurts so these crocuses greeted me on my walk this morning. It’s a false spring, although some winters have been known to be mild.
Junuary. The running joke in January is that we were having June weather. Hence, the coined name of ‘Junuary’ on the news. What was not reported was the average temperature for 5 straight days, during which clouds, a light ice storm that produced this view of a tree line, and temperatures that ranged from 25-35 deg F was much below normal. But the weather makes news. It always has. It did in Jesus’ day as referenced by Him in Luke 12:54. We always talk about the weather, its changes, and how we can predict it. What was once discussed in every public gathering–then or now–is presently being broadcast internationally so the “news” reflects our individual habits: we like to talk about the weather.
Fluctuations and Fickle Forecasting. Our views are typically short-range and often mistaken. Our mild winter is a direct contrast to Eastern Europe, which is now experiencing an extremely cold winter. Fluctuations will continue, and we will continue to predict things both right and wrong. The scriptures are clear: God uses weather to get our attention but the seasons will continue until He returns. However, He makes note that we attempt to interpret the times but miss the bigger picture. In Luke 12:54-56 he chides the people because they interpret little local weather events but miss the message of the Kingdom of God, which is a much weightier matter.
The Din of Human Behavior and True Peace. As with our fickle concentration on local and immediate weather, so our behavior and activities fill our schedule and give often give us a false sense of peace. So when weighty matters like a fundamental relationship to Jesus Christ need to be considered, the din of human behavior drowns it. In the Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24) Jesus cites how common it is to “miss the boat”. We frequently do not understand that our decisions regarding God and a relationship with Him are decided by common events, where we make the din of everyday life center stage (like the weather) but cannot or will not see the larger picture. We have a propensity to chase after false peace like a false Spring. Or lives get filled with the drama of the day but not the drama of our soul that is so much more important.
Believers: Watch and Live Accordingly. The exhortations of the scripture are clear. If you claim to be a Christian, watch. Watch your life, your steps, and your direction. Be found to be about the Master’s business. If you are not doing this or something seems missing, then seek God, His word, and make a change.
Unbelievers: Where Are You Headed? When I speak at the local Chinese Church, I frequently take time to address subjects from both a believer’s and an unbeliever’s point of view, because both believers and unbelievers are usually present. I am aware that a person who does not know God does not know true peace–the kind the world cannot give. So I ask them: where are you headed? Do you know the meaning of your existence? Do you know God? The most noble human being may claim to have hope, but without Christ, it dies with him. But humans have a way of self-convincing themselves with activity and temporary notions of peace and pleasure, but miss the weightier matters that determine the true future of their souls.
Respectfully submitted….
Roland
