July 15

"Show me a token for good."

Psalm 86:17

Let us look at those signs through which God can satisfy someone seeking answers. We'll categorize these into four groups. The first we'll label as supernatural. Many of these can be found in Scripture. When God called Abraham from Ur of the Chaldees and promised him the land of Canaan, Abraham asked, "Whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?" So, God showed him "a burning furnace, and flames ascending to heaven." This was a true miracle. An angel appeared long ago to a thresher in his barn and said, "The Lord is with thee." Gideon responded, "If the Lord be with us, why then hath all this evil befallen us? And where are all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? But now the Lord hath forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites." He refused to lead the army to defeat the Midianites unless God showed him a sign, making a fleece of wool wet with dew while the ground remained dry. Then, he tested God again by asking for the fleece to be dry while the ground was wet. And God indulged his doubts - such is His goodness! But the era of miracles has passed, and we should not expect supernatural signs. The second category we'll call superstitious or enthusiastical. One comes from an overactive imagination or excessive hope, and the other from fear. But it's unnecessary to differentiate them here when discussing these misleading signs. For example, if some people randomly open the Bible and find something uplifting, they immediately feel encouraged. But if they encounter something frightening, they become as depressed as if some disaster were about to happen to them from God. This is very wrong; even though God may have communicated with his people this way, it is not his usual method. "We have a more sure word of prophecy." "If they speak not according to the law and the testimony, it is because there is no light in them." Some randomly open their Bibles and base decisions on the first passage they see; instead, we should let "the word of Christ dwell in us richly in all wisdom," and we should use it wisely and apply it. Any passage that comes to mind can be reflected upon in many ways, but not relied upon to decide the state of our souls or our course of action. How well did Satan know Scripture, especially the book of Psalms! His quotes were precise when tempting the Savior, but only to challenge it. Again, the Savior says, "It is written," we must interpret one part of Scripture with another, or we may fall into all kinds of deception. The word of our God contains all the information we need. Some give too much importance to coincidences, but how can they reveal God's will? Suppose our path is prosperous: doesn't prosperity also come to wicked people? And how often have righteous people been tested! When they have set sail at the command of Christ, even with him on board, the wind has been against them. As we journey through life, many opportunities will arise, not for us to take but to avoid. This might be a test. When Jonah tried to flee from the presence of the Lord, he found a ship ready to sail. How providential! Yes, it was providential. But this providence was testing his obedience, not encouraging his disobedience. And we know this ship, so conveniently ready, took him into severe trouble, and when he escaped, he said, "They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercies." Let's now look at the third category of signs: those that are positive but insufficient. It's good to have a positive reputation, for enemies to have nothing bad to say about us, as was the case with Daniel, "except it be touching the law of our God." It's good to be well-regarded by everyone. But what do they know about our inner selves, motives, and hearts? "If our hearts condemn us not, God is greater than our hearts, and knoweth all things." Judas was trusted by his fellow disciples, none of whom suspected him, yet he betrayed our Lord. It's encouraging to see someone reform their ways, to see a drunkard give up drinking, a person who swore to avoid cursing, and someone who disrespected the Sabbath to keep it holy. But, while this is positive, it's not entirely convincing. There can be reform without inner transformation. There can be morality without true piety. A person may change outwardly and not have a new heart. They may come close to religion so that it could be said, "He is not far from the kingdom of God," and yet be lost in the end. How terrible it would be to fail at the threshold of that kingdom! The last category of evidence includes those signs that are authentic and conclusive. We confidently say that such includes a humble heart and a spirit of contrition. "The sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." "To that man will I look," saith the Lord, "who is humble, of a contrite spirit, and who trembleth at my word." A person may mimic the words of repentance, but they cannot fake the emotions. If our hearts are truly remorseful for our sins and turn away from sin, then we have proof of being God's children.

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