I’ve seen lots of signs in the Old City.
Besides people-watching, you could say I’ve being doing a little sign-watching.
(And, just like the people, some of the signs are…well, interesting).
Religious people like to look for signs.
Signs that confirm a way God is leading.
Signs that affirm God’s presence…or an answered prayer.
Signs have been a part of religious history all the way back to the days of Noah when God gave Noah a sign that he would never flood the earth again.
Most of the signs we talk about in religious circles today are the signs telling us when Jesus is coming back…
Or, at least when we think he’s coming back.
Not all of that talk is bad, but I think it totally misses the point.
Here’s what I mean…
Today, I visited a place called the Garden Tomb.
The Garden Tomb is the location where some believe that Jesus was crucified and buried (others believe it’s where the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is built).
Now, I am not an archaeologist, so I won’t even try to argue for one location over the other at this point.
But, I will show you what I saw today…
That door in the middle leads to an empty tomb.
An empty tomb reminds us that Jesus is alive!
And, he is coming back someday.
But, I don’t think he wants us to debate and argue and obsess over determining when exactly he’s coming back.
I think he just wants us to be ready…and help others be ready.
I think he wants us to live that “life to the full” that he came to give us now and for eternity. (John 10:10)
And, not worry so much about watching the signs, but about making disciples of the people we see around us.