A visitor from Australia was quite impressed when he read one of our signs along the highway which said, ”Deer Crossing.” He thought that we must have highly intelligent wild animals who knew where it was legal for them to cross the road.

Actually, the sign was not for the deer, but for the motorists who were being warned that the highway had been built across the ancient path the deer have used since time immemorial and which leads to their source of food and water. We cannot control the deer so we need to be warned that at any moment they may cross our path as we travel down life’s highway.

There are a great many things that we cannot control that may cross our path in life. If we know to be on the lookout for them, we will be better able to avoid them when we see them ahead.

This is why God, in His wisdom, has written for us His book, our Bible, to warn us of those things that are coming upon the earth. He has told us through His prophet, Amos, that ”surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

For this reason, we should not be surprised when things happen apparently without warning, the deer that cross our paths. For example, the world considers the troubles that come upon it as calamities. Jesus told us, ”In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” The world is taken completely off guard when events occur, such as Iraq invading Kuwait. Jesus told us, ”Ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”

The world is described by Jesus when he said that ”men’s hearts would be failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” But he tells us that we should be ”looking up and lifting up our heads; for our redemption is drawing nigh.” Isn’t it amazing how many motorists see the ”Deer Crossing” signs and still do not expect a deer to cross?

Isn’t it amazing that so many in the world do not even see the signs of the times that portend the soon coming of our Lord from heaven? In the case of the ”Deer Crossing” sign, the world sees the sign but does not pay any attention to it. In the case of the signs of the times, unfortunately, most people do not bother to read the Bible so they are unaware of the signs and warnings that God has written for our learning and salvation.

Jesus was certainly correct when he told us that his Father has ”hid these things from the wise and prudent, and has revealed them unto babes.”

We are those ”babes” that God has called out of ”the Gentiles to make a people for his name.” We are those who can ”glory in our tribulations knowing that our tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience, and experience hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our heart.” Yes, we are the ones who are of good cheer even though we have tribulations, we are the ones who know that the deer are going to cross our paths, but we also know that ”all things are working together for our good” because we are the ones who love God. We have been called according to His purpose and so we are looking up and lifting up our heads because we believe that our redemption is drawing nigh.