My wife and I enjoyed a recent road trip to Arizona to visit family (Fall Break for the grandchildren there!). We saw signs across America.
Signs all across America proclaim many messages. But the cross proclaims the most important message of all: “God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
In God’s gracious name,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
- ‘Tis the season – campaign season, that is. If we saw 100 campaign/political signs, we saw 10,000. Every race imaginable was (and still is) represented: federal, state, and local. We saw Trump/Vance signs and Harris/Walz signs in a variety of sizes and places. Signs for Senate and House races, signs for state representatives, signs for mayors, judges, school board races, and propositions without end. On some corners in major cities, there would be more than 100 signs all trying to catch the eye, and the vote. It’s tiring, and I look forward to the end of this campaign season. However, it only means that the next one will begin…the very next day.
- There are places in the world where individual voices are not heard. There are places in the world ravaged by war and famine. Our blessed, beloved country enjoys so many blessings. The signs across America reflect this truth.
- More signs. While in AZ, we heard of (and saw pictures!) God’s incredible handiwork across much of the United States via the Aurora Borealis/Northern Lights. What a spectacular sight! Such vibrancy and color! Multiple masterpieces all across the northern sky changing with every second. Just, wow!
- Fall is in full swing. Colors have peaked here in northern Wisconsin and the leaves are falling rapidly. Not much color elsewhere. A bit in Minnesota and Iowa. Lots of grassland and prairie in Nebraska and Oklahoma. And cattle. Colorado and New Mexico show off with plateaus and mesas and mountains and big blue skies. And Arizona, even with 100+ degree heat each day we were there, always stuns with its desert vistas, saguaros and sunrises/sunsets. And twenty years of memories of raising our family.
- In the driving, there were signs. Signs of God’s protection and grace. Every major city, it seems, offers the potential for fender benders and/or more horrifying accidents. Praise God for sparing us, keeping us safe, and bringing us home.
- More signs – signs of God’s care and creativity and in this time of life, meaning, adult children with children and families of their own. This blessing is hard to put into words; I’m grateful that it fills my heart.
- News updates during our trip reminded us of our Lord’s listing of some the signs of the end of time. They are all present, and renewed daily: “For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.” (Matthew 24:5-7) Especially distressing was the devastation wrought by Hurricane Milton on the heels of Hurricane Helene.
- Everywhere we went, we saw reminders of the most important truth of all, of God’s saving love represented by the cross. Crosses on hillsides, on church properties, on plains, on private property. Wooden crosses, metal crosses, tall crosses, short crosses – all remind of the one cross that matters, the cross on which the Savior took away the sins of the whole world.
Signs all across America proclaim many messages. But the cross proclaims the most important message of all: “God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
In God’s gracious name,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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