In Matthew 16, we read about how the religious leaders of Jesus’ day came and “tempting desire him that he would show them a sign from heaven.” Jesus said to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ “And in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and lowering (threatening).’ O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (verses 2-3). In other words, these experts in the Old Testament could by means of their primitive, non-scientific knowledge discern the weather better than the truth of God. What a major put down!

Discernment is not highly valued in our society. Discrimination is seen as a terrible affront. I am not speaking of racial discrimination, because that is an evil sin that breaks the heart of God.

I am talking about discrimination about what is absolutely true and what is false. In this post-modern world, society rejects anything absolute. Your truth is your truth and my truth is my truth as the philosophy goes. What may be true for you may not be true for me.

This follows naturally a rejection of God. Lost men don’t want to believe in God so they explain Him away. They explain away the glory of creation with unverifiable evolution. If there is no God, there is no revelation of divine truth, so there are no absolute standards, so everything is then relative. Like a period of Israel’s history, we read today’s verse in Judges 17:6. Modern man has explained away God, removed the King from the throne and now everyone does what he wants to do. It is sad! Follow truth and discern today!