Ron's Insights 2013

The Seasons are Changing

by Ron Susek

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

      Big Ben, one of London's most imposing features, has drawn tourists for decades. It awakens one's senses to the march of time. Huge hands point to numbers while deep chimes drive home the point . . . time is on the move.

      What you do not see, however, are the massive gears responding to rhythmic mechanisms that keep pace with the flow of the universe. More so, you do not see the brilliant clockmakers who invented, assembled and set the system in motion. All you know is the time, and the messages it speaks: Are you late? Are you early? Did you get it done? How much longer can you gaze at Big Ben?

      Likewise, seasons come to pass that you can neither produce nor dismiss, only accept. You cannot see the mechanism of gravity that balances the rotating earth, nor the Creator who both began and sustains the motion. You cannot speed up or delay earth's orbital pattern, only conduct yourself accordingly within the seasonal flow.

      There are also prophetic seasons. Wise people watch and prepare.

      Three wise men had been watching the times and the seasons that would indicate our Savior's birth. Thus, they perceived a message in the strange star that appeared in the east. Having searched they found. This led to the privilege of seeing the Christ Child in person, even bestowing gifts upon Him.

      Indeed, it pays to search and find!

      The masses saw the same star but perceived nothing. Perhaps they considered the star to be no more than a natural phenomenon. Non seekers are notoriously blind.

      Just as God gave prophetic signs for Jesus' first coming, so He has given signs for His second coming. To non-seekers, Christmas, like Big Ben, is little more than a tourist attraction conjoined with a shopping spree. In Matthew 24 Jesus told his disciples (and us) to watch for His return. He gave signs so that His followers are not deceived. Here is His list:

1)    Many will arise claiming to be Christ and lead many astray;

2)    Wars and rumors of wars will abound;

3)    Famines will scourge the earth;

4)    Earthquakes will increase;

5)    Tribulation will fall upon His followers;

6)    His disciples will be hated;

7)    Many will fall away from the faith;

8)    False prophets will arise;

9)    Lawlessness will increase;

10)The love of many will wax cold;

11)Those who endure will be saved;

12)The gospel will be preached to the entire world; and

13)Then the end will come.

         I think the wise men of today are watching, waiting and enduring, don't you? Because ". . . we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."1

Immanuel: God is with you!

Your friend,

Ron

¹Hebrews 10:39 (ESV)