Forecasting Our Spiritual Condition

Then He also said to the multitudes, “Whenever you see a cloud rising out of the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming’; and so it is. And when you see the south wind blow, you say, ‘There will be hot weather’; and there is. Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

“Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite.” (Luke 12: 54-59)

The Lord exhorted the multitudes to discern right from wrong. The Son of God and Savior of the world walked among them teaching them the truth of God, but they refused to listen. They could foretell the weather, but claimed to not be sure about Jesus being the prophesied Messiah. The Lord called them hypocrites, because they knew the truth about Him, but pretended to not know it.

They not only knew He was the Son of God, they also could judge what the right thing to do was in light of Jesus’ teachings – to repent. The Lord told them how absurd it was for a man to wait until he is condemned, to try to make peace with the judge, but they wouldn’t admit they were wrong before God. The righteous and merciful judge of the earth was in front of them, and they were not willing to reconcile with Him.

The hearts of men have not changed much since Jesus walked on this earth. How often we hear the unbelievers respond like these Jews when we talk to them about their salvation, “I will wait until I die, and then will make a decision”. I have heard this response many times myself. The Lord tells us (and them) that after we die it will be too late.

Repenting is always the right thing to do; not only for unbelievers, but for followers of Christ as well. Let’s strive to keep our hearts clean and right with God every day, bringing every sinful thought and intention to Christ to be forgiven. Let’s keep those bad habits of ours on a short leash, and walk in holiness, bringing honor to our Lord Jesus Christ with our lives. It is the right thing to do.

Today’s practice

I will confess my sins to the Lord (He knows them anyway). I will ask Him to forgive me, and help me to recognize hidden sins in my life, so I can come to Him and be cleansed.

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10: 4-6)