I Missed the Sign!
I missed the sign. The speed limit changed from 55 to 35, and needless to say, I got a ticket for speeding. I had no excuse–I missed the sign! All I had to do was follow the sign, and life would continue without a bump in the road. I wasn’t trying to break the law; I didn’t do it on purpose. I just simply missed the sign. I’m a good driver; I’ve never lost my license, but I wasn’t paying attention and missed the sign.
God’s creation is also a sign. Romans 1:20 tells us, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–His eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” What God made, creation is a sign pointing us toward Him. Once we understand Romans 1:20, we can see the ocean, mountains, sunsets and even new leaves on the trees every spring are all signs that point us toward the creator. Furthermore, we “are without excuse” if we “miss the SIGN”!
I didn’t understand this concept for a long time. I was thinking all about me. It didn’t occur to me that God might be saying “Look at me. Look at me! Pay attention to me; I can help you here.” I appreciated creation. I had no trouble giving God the credit for creation. But, I didn’t understand that creation was pointing me to Him, telling me to think about where things came from and why I needed God. I didn’t know Romans; I didn’t know the Bible. I didn’t know God had a plan for my life. No, I missed that sign too. I was thinking all about me: What I want, when I want, how I want, etc. I think you understand, and I think in many ways you were and are just like me. We all come into this world as sinners. Unless we see the sign or someone teaches us another way, we stay stuck right there–in our sin.
Some folks hear a little bit about Jesus or a little bit about the Bible and make a few changes. I did, and I changed a little bit and started to think about Jane a little bit. “Wouldn’t I like it if …?” (Note–emphasis on “I”, and not “we”). Most of us do this. We realize our 100% selfishness is a turn-off to others, so we change a little bit. We let some of our selfishness go. But we are doing so for all the wrong reasons–we don’t even realize the manipulators we have become. We see something we want, and we make a few changes to get what we want. We are actually believing a lie from Hell and don’t even realize it. Our behavior and thoughts all start out innocently enough, but eventually, they turn into ugly and horrible things.
When we allow “me” to control our lives, selfishness, manipulation, silence, control, spiritual attack, sexual immorality, unforgiveness, shame, ignorance, pride, idolatry, and other ugly things attack our marriages. If we have “missed the sign”, don’t have an authentic relationship with Jesus, and don’t have the tools to fight back against these things, our marriages can become very ugly–marriages in which no one is happy, and no one knows how to fix the problem.
Divorce is not the answer. You will only take these problems with you to your next relationship if you don’t learn about the signs, who they point to, and what a difference He will make in your marriage. Malachi 2:16 tells us God hates divorce. We are even told we will lose favor with God due to divorce. Malachi 2:13-15
Years ago, it never occurred to me that God had a plan for me to be in a relationship with Him and others. I missed that sign, and no one taught me what the Bible said about it. I was a post-WWII baby–” You can do anything you set your mind on and work hard enough for.” So, I’m out there on my own, going after what I want, knowing just enough Bible to get myself in trouble. “Didn’t God say for us to subdue and rule over the earth?” Genesis 1:28 I didn’t even finish Genesis for a long time.
Today, I want you to know the sign I missed was Jesus. I tell you this because like me, you may have missed the Romans 1:20 signs that point us to Him, and He will absolutely change your life for the better!
Please see. https://longviewretreat.com/why-jesus/
I didn’t understand the following things: Jesus is ready, willing, and able to show me how to do life His way; how He created men and women as differently emotionally as He did physically–though we have an equal value to Him, we have different roles; how I am to love Jane as Christ loved the church, and how she is to respect me; how all things work for the good of those who love Him; how we are to forgive others as He has forgiven us; and the joy in following Him. Today, as you “drive” through life, don’t miss the sign that will point you toward all this and more!
Please See: https://longviewretreat.com/