The Spiritual Weather Channel

The Spiritual Weather Channel

Luke 12:54-59, NIV

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. 55And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56Hypocrites! 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? 57Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Setting the Scene

Progress in meteorology helps us predict the weather, but those who live in various regions eventually recognize certain weather patterns that help them guess what will happen next. Jesus reminded his audience that they regularly used clouds and wind to “interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky.” Then he added, “Since you can read these conditions so well, why is it that you cannot read what’s happening in time and history that is even more important than the weather?” The word “hypocrites” highlights his point that the problem wasn’t an inability to discern the spiritual times but an unwillingness to do so.

Throughout the Old Testament, God provided sign after sign pointing to the coming Kingdom. Those indications were as sure as wind forecasting heat or clouds announcing rain. But the people were ignoring the present signs, rejecting God’s Kingdom in favor of the dream of a kingdom of their own making—an earthly Israel freed from Rome.

Today we spend more time talking about the weather, sports, or entertainment than we do the words of Christ. As believers, a passage like this can create a powerful conviction about our responsibility to urge others to settle things with God. We can’t force them to recognize Jesus any more than Jesus himself was able to force belief in people. But we have been given the privilege to share with others their opportunity to avoid God’s judgment while there is still time.

Getting Personal

Who are the people in your life you can readily see are on the way to judgment before God?

What specific efforts have you made to offer them the gracious alternative of the out-of-court settlement in Christ?

If you spend more time with news, sports, and weather than you do pursuing your understanding of Christ, how might you change your priorities?

Some people imagine they can come up with a plausible defense for their lives when they stand before God. Such thinking is demonic trickery. God’s judgment is perfect and irreversible. Each person must decide what to do about Jesus. And the decision must be made before we stand before God.

Talking to God

Even as you understand how you will escape God’s judgment because of Christ, ask the Lord to help you be aware of how you might help others understand the freedom and forgiveness that are found in him.