We seem to be living in a generation that is particularly against the idea and person of The living God. His name is defamed and blasphemed everywhere and people have found other ways to live their lives apart from God. We now have the right to choose anything we like and any lifestyle that appeals to our senses. The Bible is vilified and Christians are sidelined and regarded as unscientific. We are surely in the days of Noah; the days of Ninevah; the state of Sodom and Gomorrah; the time of the Queen of the South; the unbelieving days of Christ, when God walked the earth.

Noah was a sign to the wicked people in his day, to show them they needed a refuge from the judgement of God. They refused to believe and were all drowned in the flood. Jonah was a sign to the people in Ninevah, and he preached to them to repent and turn and be delivered from certain punishment. They repented and searched for forgiveness and turned away from their wicked lifestyles and trusted in God. They were saved. Sodom and Gomorrah would not repent, or turn from evil, but persisted in provoking God, so they were all consumed by the raging fire of God’s wrath.

News of the glory of Solomon and his glorious God, reached the ears of the Queen of Sheba. She travelled far across the world, carrying rich treasure for Solomon, so that she could learn about his wisdom and his God. People in our culture will make no effort to even hear God’s message to them- it does not matter how endearing it many be. The mighty Queen of Sheba will show them up and they will have no excuses left.

When Jesus walked on our world, he brought hope, forgiveness and mercy to many, many people. Many saw “the sign” and believed and were healed in body and spirit. He is the ultimate sign- the final sign of the message of deliverance and forgiveness to all who believe. Even yet there were those who refused to accept him. They wanted a “sign” A sign of their choosing.

As the crowds grew, Jesus said to them…      “This is a wicked generation. It asks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so also will the Son of Man be to this generation. The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.” Luke 11:29-32

Unbelief is not particular to any generation or age of man, it is specific to us all. God sends His messengers and “signs” to warn, teach, preach and lead people to righteousness. Either we come to God or we resist. The pattern is clear. If we kick against His mercy and will, we will be ultimately destroyed.

Our culture is no different from any other. We refuse and deliberately go our own way. Gods “signs” remain. The “signs” are seen in scripture, in history and in the lives of every Christian believer today. Our lives and behaviour and our words, are “signs” to our generation that there is another way, and we all must walk it, so that people see there is a difference.

The way is a blessed way, the only path to peace and blessing. Believers in Jesus walk the way because they love Christ, and the people around them – we live as living “signs” for the glory of God.