Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Red (10/01/09)
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TITLE: Reading the Signs | Previous Challenge Entry
By Florence Simmons
10/06/09 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
Bright, shiny, and inviting, crimson red is the color I love for a hot sports car. This is probably because I’m a fan of the color red, and maybe sports cars too. To my disappointment, I have never owned one, and I’ve only been able to admire these red-hot vehicles.
Red has been a part of my whole life. I like the way I see myself in red, and when I wear the color, I feel good. In fact, the color red draws out many emotions in people. Romance is in the air, and red roses are one of the best sellers. Red catches people’s attention, and I would like to believe the psychological research that says men are drawn more to women who wear red. Of course, I can’t really say that I’ve noticed.
The color red seems to be used all over the world. We see this color on stop signs, on many nations’ flags, and on warning labels; red is also the color that tells us when we can accelerate or stop our car. Some drivers have a misunderstanding of how to read a red light, as they barely skim through. I don’t think that would include you or me.
Many red sunsets have taken my breath away; they are just gorgeous, and I realize how creatively God has made His marvelous universe for us to enjoy. Years ago, a red sunset for sailors plowing the seas inspired this saying: “Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning.” A sailor wasn’t looking at the beauty of a red sunrise so much as reading the signs the sky showed for bad weather.
People were astute in observing the signs of weather patterns even in the time of Jesus. Like those who study weather, they often wanted Jesus to show them a sign from heaven. Jesus captures an illustration from an everyday occurrence when He tells them, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.”
Many of those who were looking for a heavenly sign from Jesus weren’t rightly interpreting the red sky signs of the time. Jesus was teaching about His coming and about the end time, but some people completely rejected His warnings. Jesus called that generation “wicked and adulterous.”
Sailors want to know what challenges the morning red sky weather holds for them. Jesus tells us what our red sky challenges will be: “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it you are not alarmed. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:7). When watching our world for the many red sky signs that are mentioned in God’s Word, will we accurately interpret these warnings for our own times?
It’s important that we understand that these red sky warnings are getting us closer to the time of Christ’s return. Are our hearts and lives ready?
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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If the future topics for this quarter are all colors, I'd encourage you to choose one aspect or association for each color and elaborate on that, rather than "brainstorm" so many, which made this feel a teensy bit disjointed.
This would make a good opener for a small group Bible study.