Are You Sensing the Winds of Change?

John Osborne 

Growing up in Bozeman, Montana and next to Livingston, MT it was not uncommon to hear of the extreme winds that would blow semis over along the interstate.  With average winds of 15.2 mph a day and peak wind gusts of at least 30mph over 245 days a year, it was known to be the windy city of Montana.  These stats far surpassed the claims of Chicago which is known as the Windy City of America.

I’m sure you have noticed that the change in a wind pattern often forecasts a change in the upcoming weather.  Recently one morning, as I was headed out on a walk the wind began to pick up and the clouds appeared ominous.  Almost without warning a large clap of thunder accompanied a bolt of lightning that struck not but a few hundred yards in front of me.  I froze in space.  A chill went down my spine.  Several thoughts and emotions went through my mind all at the same time.

As I reflect on the correlation between the natural world that we live in where we can see, taste and smell, and the sometimes hidden supernatural world, I take note of some similarities.  Just as the wind blows across our faces and lets us know of a change that is in the air, the winds of change in our culture point to a different time and era for the church and His Spirit.  Though darkness seems to be getting stronger and to be flexing its muscle more, the power of the Spirit is still superior.

When one looks back at the history of the Church Universal, we can see that in the midst of political turmoil and economic unrest the Church seems to thrive.  The Light of the Gospel shines brightest in the darkness.  We have to remember that God is not surprised by anything and that His Church can expand in the midst of anything.  As John Stevens has written, “We need to find our identity in Christ, and rather than mourning what has been lost grasp the many new opportunities to proclaim him and share his love with the lost.” 

The winds of change are blowing as all of us can observe.  As Paul writes in Ephesians 5, we need to live with anticipation of what God wants to do and “make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”