The Bible says:
“When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” — Luke 12: 54-56
Apart from “facial recognition” our face is used to express our emotions and temperament.
The ability to read a person by their face is called “physiognomy.” Physiognomy is a universal language spoken and understood by all.
It’s the “shorthand of the mind” and “the index card or a title page to the soul.” It’s reading the face or the surface to determine what is beneath.
The face is the part that reveals the whole. The prophets read faces.
(Deuteronomy 1: 17; Isaiah 3: 9; Jeremiah 1: 17; Ezekiel 2: 6; 3: 9) The face will speak more honestly than the lips in every occasion. The natural lines, pulls, and twitches are not on the face by accident but are there because they have a corresponding line, pull and twitch in the inner man.
We all have read an honest face, a clouded brow, a sincere and serene face, an innocent face, and a face expressing hatred, fear, hurt, pain, and violence. Even the expressionless “poker face” is a revelation of coolness. Even though our hearts may be secret, our countenance is transparent.
The sky also has a face and the people that are trained to read its face are meteorologist. The face of the sky is constantly changing. Its face may be clear now and minutes later may be cloudy and shooting lightning from its eyes.
The people of Jesus’ day were pretty good at reading the face of the sky and predicting the weather. They knew by the face of the sky when a rain shower was coming and when a heat wave was coming. We say, “Red sky of morning, sailor take warning, red sky of night, sailor’s delight.”
But we, like them, unless we see our world through the lenses of Scripture cannot discern the signs of the times.
Can you read the face of the sky and accurately predict the weather, but can’t read the signs of the time?
James H. Cagle is a Ray City resident who pastored several churches for a total of 11 years. Email him at pastorjameshcagle@ yahoo.com
