by David Brenneman
"And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38.
Probably a strange title to the passage that you just read.
"The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” Mark 8:11-12.
Throughout the decades people have wanted God to give them some kind of a sign. Sometimes because they wanted to know He was real first sometimes out of anger because of how life was for them. Some because their desire was to honestly obey their god of atheism and prove that God doesn't exist.
You have a measure of faith when you are a child concerning believing in Jesus Christ. The Bible tell us so. What you do with it is up to you. This seed of faith will inevitably do something. It will either die off in various ways or it will grow into a vibrant life in Christ.
The first passage shows that we take up our own cross and follow Him...our efforts in life are towards obedience to God's Word. No signs are necessary because we become the living sign to the world. People see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. Or as someone once said let your life be your testimony and if you must, use words.
Nobody escapes the notice of my God. Before anyone else tries to make it apply to Facebook, Instagram, X, or anything like these, no this doesn't mean that if you don't repost some religious themed meme or pictures that you are denying Jesus before men and women.
The reality of the first passage is that there's always been more intended for your life after coming to Christ than anything this world seeks or wars to own. Indeed we read "but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
With respect to these things that God has in mind for those who do believe and do love Him, consider it well what Ruth was told by her Uncle Mordecai "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14.
Our life in Christ must mean that we choose Christ over our own desires and wants. We repeatedly see Jesus demonstrating to His disciples reasons to cultivate their faith in Him.
Many want signs to see if they've gone too far in a bad decision. Some try asking because to them it's akin to rolling the dice or that supposed magic decision making 8 ball.
Jesus said to His disciples that they must come as a child. Children don't waste their time with arbitrary questions. They don't worry about semantics of situations. They just know that bringing their requests to Jesus is enough and they believe He will do what He says He will do. No proof is needed ahead of time.
Don't miss the middle part.
"Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord—for we walk by faith, not by sight—we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:6-8.
Think back on the post about the light and those blinded by the god of this world.
Many who seek for a sign are those individuals who have been blinded by the god of this world.
Children of the Light of Jesus Christ don't need signs. They have a faith history to reflect upon that shows them in ever deeper ways that their relationship with Jesus is serious business. That He meant it when He said that He would never leave us or forsake us. That when we bring our requests to Jesus that He hears them. That our footsteps in life aren't some random occurrence. That in Christ there's finally meaning to our existence.
"but just as it is written, “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man, All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.
By our faith we see the truth of God in Christ Jesus. We see that it is utter foolishness to be asking for such signs.
The world isn't going to get any better until after the 7 Year Great Tribulation that's coming. Then those who are still alive at that time will see what true peace, safety and prosperity looks like when Jesus Christ rules Himself from Jerusalem over the whole world without Satan's interference.
Consider this:
"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:3-9.
He is patient towards the people wanting some sign from God. He is still there waiting on these people to just open the door of their hearts to let Him in. That's all it takes. The greatest sign ever is when a person invites Jesus in to become the forgiver of their sins and the leader of their lives. Jesus is the single sign to all mankind.
He was seen as such by the Roman guards who saw how He died. He was missed by those Pharisees and Sadducees who denied the very same thing that was seen by these guards.
When He was on the cross He was taunted to yet still give a sign by coming down off the cross. At first both criminals joined in and at last one had a change of heart. They all 3 died and while the one was with Jesus in paradise, the other was in painful torment looking across the chasm that separated those in judgment from those awaiting Jesus to come.
We just need to come to Christ for salvation as a child. There's nothing complicated about it for anyone to over think.
Jesus is coming back and the world is going to reel from the effects of the Rapture of the Church of Jesus Christ. Millions will die. possibly billions from the collateral damage of this event. Unto many other people this in and of itself will be a sign to them and they will only then come to Christ for salvation.
We know and trust Jesus to be the promise keeper.
To know more than what you're looking for you first must come to Christ for salvation. Jesus said that He was the only way. This isn't going to change at all for all humanity.
You need to decide what is more important. You being right or acknowledging that only Jesus is right and that you have a God shaped hole in your heart that can only be filled by Jesus Christ.
Jesus owes nobody a single sign.
Jesus IS the only sign the world will ever be given.
There's but 2 outcomes. A life in Christ that leads to an eternity in Heaven with Jesus or a life that leads to an eternity in pain and misery paying for your own sins forever separated from Jesus.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation.
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