Seeking Signs
Updated: 7 days ago
My sister was once tagged in a public Facebook post, which happened to show up on my feed. The young person was wondering why God had never revealed Himself to them.
I'd been contemplating that topic only a few hours before and found it quite interesting that a 2-day old post about that topic showed up at that moment. You'll see in a minute why I did not think my sister's friend would appreciate the passage of scripture I'd been pondering. But first let's set the scene.
In Matthew 16, the Pharisees and the Sadducees had come to tempt Jesus, demanding a sign from Heaven. Jesus said,
"A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign". Matthew 16:4 KJV
And now you see why I didn't share this verse with that person, don't you?
Nevertheless, it's still true. Jesus had given the Pharisees and Sadducees so many signs. He'd walked on water, healed all manner of disease and injuries. He raised people from the dead! And still they demanded a sign.
Pursuing signs will only end in more doubts. Why? Because we are not saved by the signs God gives us. The Bible doesn't say by your proof you will be saved. What does it say?
"By grace are ye saved through faith." Eph. 2:8
The Bible is all the proof God need give us. It's more than sufficient. It's even generous. An Almighty God doesn't have to prove anything to His creation, and yet He gave us all we needed and more because He is gracious.
So, why do people still seek proof?
Because they choose not to believe. They seek reassurance, but reassurance doesn't save you. Faith does.
Feeling wobbly? Read your Bible.
Feeling frightened or unsure? Read your Bible.
But more than that, BELIEVE your Bible. Just reading it isn't enough. Knowledge isn't enough. You must believe what you read.
Not convinced? "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17
In fact, Romans says, "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope."
That's the true reason Jesus told the doubting disciple Thomas he should have believed without seeing. It's not hope if you see it.
Now, I am not saying that God never uses signs. Rather, I want you to consider Gideon. He asked God for a sign 4 times. Once for the angel to burn up the sacrfice, and twice with the fleece. And even after all of that, God said, 'If you're still doubting, go down to the camp and you'll overhear that someone had a dream of you." THAT's what I mean. Gideon kept asking for signs.
More often than not, when you start to chase 'signs' the loop is endless. It's a one-way ticket down a road that never gets you anywhere because you are either blind to the signs, or because you just start doubting the signs as well. So, I'm encouraging you to never get on that road, never seek signs.
Are you seeking signs that Jesus is real? Asking God to prove Himself? Stop. You have all you need in your Bible. It's time to believe.
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