Title: Sign of God / Matthew 24:32-44
Content Word: Matthew 24:32-44
Every part of our body is sending signs of our health. The face, for example, signals our health by its color and expression. So we look at someone else's face and say, "Sir, you look good." Or say “Teacher, how are you?” Our eyes, palms, blood and urine are also signs of our health. In this way, all parts of our body are sending signs about our health and the state of health in parts that are invisible to our eyes. Our bodies aren't the only ones sending us signs. Mother nature in which we live is also sending us a sign. Natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions do not happen suddenly and without warning. It sends various signs that a volcanic eruption will occur in advance, and finally a volcanic eruption occurs.
Today's text teaches us that God is also sending us a sign. God sends us important signs through many things. Through the parable of the fig tree in Matthew 24:32 and 33, Jesus told us to ‘learn’. We know that summer is near when we see the fig tree branch with green life activities and tender leaves growing. Because the green branches and soft leaves are a sign that summer is approaching. In verse 33, Jesus said, "In the same way, when you see all these things, know that the Son of Man is near and at the door." It teaches us that we should read the signs that God gives us through the events that God gives us through the events of the times, through the events that happen to us.
Why does God give us signs? God sends us signs to show us our condition. Signs are given so that we can know whether our spiritual condition is healthy or not. He sends a sign to let us know what the condition of our hearts is. Signs are sent to let us know if we are awake, dozing, or sleeping.
Another reason is that God sends a sign to teach us what He will do.
In verses 40 and 41 of the text, Jesus tells us that there is a life that ignores God's signs. No matter how much God sends a sign, there are people who cannot see the sign. There are people who look at you and ignore you. Jesus warned those who disregard the sign with the words of the flood incident in Noah's day (verse 39). God communicated through various signs that people's spiritual condition was extreme in Noah's time, and that they had reached their limit. If the condition continued, beeps, warning lights, and signs continued to sound indicating that there would be judgment. But they ignored it to the end.
So why not see or ignore the sign? First, if you live intoxicated with the world, you will ignore God's sign and live. We are obsessed with what we see and what we see, so we cannot see the sign of God given through them (verse 38). Just as when we get drunk, we make mistakes because we can't discern properly, so when we are drunk with the world, no matter how much God gives us a warning sign, we don't realize it.
Second, if we are caught up in our own greed, we ignore God's sign and fail to see it. A baseball player gave the coach a sign to bunt, but he dies while swinging the bat to hit a home run with his greed, killing the runner ahead. He ignored the director's signature for his own greed. Also, they are caught up in their own greed and do not see the warning sign. Because of their greed, they cross the road blindly without seeing warning signs, danger signs, and red lights. The result is obvious. The more urgent you are, the more carefully you should watch for red lights and warning lights. Otherwise, you will have a bigger loss.
Third, because God's sign is not something that has happened right now, we ignore it, thinking it's a no-brainer. Therefore, even while looking at the autograph, he ignores it with hopelessness. We waited patiently for the sign to be revealed in reality, and when the real sign of the sign was revealed, it was already too late.
Fourth, we ignore the signs of God's warnings with plausible excuses and reasons. But he is being deceived by his excuses. Having a lot of excuses and saying you're unlucky is a very clear sign that you're in a bad mood. Therefore, we need to intuitively know that excuses keep coming out of our mouths, and when we are lucky, we are alerting ourselves.
When we continue to ignore the signs that God gives us, that person is bound to be disappointed. You will lose your health, lose your job, lose your job, lose your family, and lose everything. You will lose everything, and ultimately you will lose it, which you can't get back. As a warning against this kind of misfortune and loss, Jesus says, “They did not understand until the flood came and destroyed them all; so will the coming of the Son of Man be” (verse 39).
The people God is looking for are those who see and understand the signs God gives us. A person who listens carefully to signs warning about one's condition, signs indicating one's condition. He is a person who examines himself according to the signs God gives him and looks forward to what God will do. He is a person who strives to see the signs that God gives and to hear what God will do. This person is a wise person and can lead a successful life. Also, the awakened people that God is looking for are those who prepare and prepare according to God's sign. Jesus said to us, “Therefore, be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” that the time is coming. The time of opportunity will come, the time of blessing will come, the time to organize everything, and the time will come when everything will be revealed. Therefore, we must be awake to see the sign, to be prepared, to be prepared, to be prepared.