Knowing the Times and Knowing What To Do

The sons of Isaachar knew the times, and they knew what Israel should do (1 Chronicles 12:32).

It’s important for us to know the time we are living in. When we understand the spiritual season we’re living in, then we can know what God wants us to do.

Jesus rebuked people for not recognizing the spiritual season (Luke 12:54-56). He said they were good at predicting the weather, but they didn’t know how to recognize spiritual seasons.

Knowing the weather is helpful. If a person knows the weather, he can better prepare for the day. if he knows it is going to rain, he will wear a rain coat. If he knows it will be be hot, he will dress accordingly. But more important than understanding the weather of natural seasons is understanding spiritual seasons. We need to be spiritually prepared for what is coming.

When Jesus came the first time, he expected people to recognize the spiritual season they were in. He was the Christ, and he brought the kingdom of God, announced salvation, and crushed Satan’s head. He expected people to recognize that so they would respond appropriately.

But only a few people understood that season.

John the Baptist knew that season. He knew about the arrival of Christ because he heard his mother Elisabeth and his Aunt Mary talking about it. So he prepared by fulfilling his calling. He went into the wilderness and preached repentance, preparing the way for Jesus.

Wise men from the East knew the season they were living in. They saw a special star and travelled hundreds of miles to reach Israel. How did they know this season when so many Jews did not? Maybe they understood the prophecies of Daniel, and so they were able to understand when Christ would be born. Daniel used to live in Babylon, and maybe he left teachings behind that influenced them. So the wise men came to Israel, met Jesus, gave him gifts, and worshiped him.

Simeon and Anna knew the season. They knew it because it was revealed to them by the Holy Spirit. They also knew the prophecies of the Scriptures, and they recognized that prophecies were being fulfilled. Therefore they were in the temple at the right time to meet the baby Jesus. Simeon carried the baby Jesus. They both prophesied to Jesus’ parents. Anna prophesied to others about Jesus.

Most Jews during the time of Jesus were spiritually blind. They didn’t know the season they were living in and so they didn’t know what to do. Because they were out of step with God, they killed his Son.

It’s important for us to understand the time that we’re living in so we can be prepared and not be deceived.

We need vision. Vision helps us to understand the times. “Without vision my people perish” (Prov. 29:18). Vision shows us the destination. If we see the destination then we know the places we have to go through in order to get to that destination. Recognizing these intermediate steps helps us understand the times. It also gives us endurance.

Some of the end goals for the world are the maturity and glory of the church, the maturity of individual saints, the return of Jesus Christ, the kingdom of God everywhere, the creation set free from Satan and corruption, and the glory of God all over the world.

When we see these end goals, we can recognize the intervening stages to reach these goals.

Children in a long car ride can grow impatient. They cry out, “are we there yet?”

This is because they want to immediately reach the destination, and they lack patience to go through all the towns along the way in order to get there.

There are many stages for us to go through in order to reach our ultimate destination. We need patience.

Jesus said at the end of the age, many signs would occur. These signs would indicate that it is the season of the end of the age. He said It would be like a tree budding (Luke 21:29-32). When the buds form, then spring is right around the corner. Jesus warned that people at this time should not be weighed down with coursing and the cares of life. He said they should watch, be alert, and pray.

The end of the age will be like the days of Noah. A few people will be prepared, like Noah was prepared with the ark, but most people will just be continuing life as usual, unaware of the spiritual season they are living in until the flood of judgment comes and destroys them (Matthew 24:39).

At the end of the age some churches will be wise and some will be foolish (Matthew 25:1). The wise churches will be prepared for the coming of Jesus because they will be full of the Holy Spirit. The foolish churches on the other hand will lack the Holy Spirit and won’t be prepared.

At the end of the age there will be an invitation to the marriage supper of the lamb (Matthew 22:1). Some people will be ready, discerning the time, but others will be unprepared. Those who are ready will go into the marriage supper and be kept safe. This who are not ready will be too busy with their families, business, and properties, so they will not come. Their lack of discernment will cause them to not know what to do, and they will be shut out.

God is calling us to know the time that we’re living in.We will understand this time through the word of God, the Holy Spirit inside us, and fellowship in the body of Christ. When we recognize the time we’re living in, then we will know what to do.

We will know how to live, what to prioritize, how to grow spiritually, and how to help others grow so the bride of Christ can be prepared for the second coming of Jesus.