Eternal Perspectives: What Signs are We Looking For?

We’re surrounded by signs. Our job is to discern, with God’s help, which are important enough to heed and which to avoid. The task is life-long and when we choose wisely, we reap His rewards of peace, joy, wholeness, and eternal life.

Eternal Perspectives by Sally Bair

We all look for signs

As I look out my window these days, I see few signs of wildlife. Ordinarily, I see the tracks of deer and red foxes and other creatures, but this winter all I see is snow piled so high that it blocks my view. Nature’s signs are truly hidden for a time. Soon, however, I’ll be viewing the lake again, the birds returning from their southern homes, the foxes pouncing on prey to feed their babies.

Signs are evident not only in nature but in the changes that take place around us. Young people wear different types of clothing, our laws change with each new political force, work situations shift and our own health and well-being alter daily, so it seems. We may find it hard to keep up with the accelerating changes around us. And because of our busyness or preoccupation, it becomes easy to miss the signs around us.

The Pharisees asked Jesus to show them a sign of His divinity, but they refused to acknowledge His obvious miracles. The Gospel of John relates several signs that point to God’s miraculous ability to heal. Jesus turned water into wine, restored a ruler’s son to life, healed a hopeless cripple, and fed 5,000 men plus women and children with a few fish and little bread. He walked on water, gave sight to a man born blind, and raised Lazarus from the dead. And He caused His disciples to catch a boatload of fish after a day of catching nothing.

John concludes his gospel with these words: “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30)

Jesus still offers signs of His power and majesty. He delivers people from danger, from destructive behavior, and from the soul-destroying effects of the past. He heals people of cancer and a host of other afflictions, often instantaneously. Yet many, like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, don’t—or won’t—see the evidence in front of them.

All the signs are there waiting for us to search for them, whether signs in nature, in miracles and wonders, or in God’s Word. It’s our choice to believe them or not.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Lord, thank You for the signs You show us through Your Word and in all our surroundings. We believe, Lord, help our unbelief. In Jesus’ name, amen.