THE STORK IN THE SKY KNOWS HER APPOINTED SEASONS

Jeremiah 8:7 (ESV)

“Even the stork in the heavens knows her times, and the turtledove, swallow, and crane keep the time of their coming, but my people know not the rules of the Lord.”

Nature often teaches us lessons that we, in our spiritual blindness, fail to grasp. In Jeremiah 8:7, God uses birds—creatures without human reasoning—to expose the spiritual ignorance of His people. Birds like the stork, swallow, and crane instinctively discern the changing seasons and migrate accordingly for their survival. They know when winter approaches and leave their habitats to seek warmer climates, sometimes flying thousands of miles to regions like Africa or parts of the southern hemisphere. After the cold subsides, they return home and continue with life as normal.

The winters in places like Europe can be deadly, with temperatures so low they turn water to solid ice. Human beings cannot endure the cold without proper shelter and heating, let alone birds with delicate bodies. If these birds remained in such conditions, their nests would freeze, and they would perish. But because they perceive the times, they move. This survival strategy is not born of intelligence like ours, but of divine instinct.

Yet, God laments that His people, gifted with reason and spiritual insight, fail to discern the spiritual seasons He has appointed. We don’t recognize the time of God’s mercy, nor the impending season of His judgment. We live as though grace will last forever, assuming the gospel will always be freely preached, that the doors of salvation will always be open.

But Scripture warns us otherwise.

Jesus said in Revelation 22:10–12 (ESV):

“Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.”

This is not merely an invitation anymore—it is a declaration of finality. The time for persuasion is fading; now is the time for confirmation. Christ is coming back soon, and He will repay each person according to their deeds.

Many signs indicate we are at the end of the age: pandemics like COVID-19, intensifying natural disasters, and the rise of false prophets and deceptive spiritual movements. These are not random events—they are prophetic indicators.

Jesus rebuked His generation for failing to recognize the spiritual significance of their time:

Luke 12:54–56 (ESV):

“He also said to the crowds, ‘When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, “A shower is coming.” And so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, “There will be scorching heat,” and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?’”

If we can predict the weather, prepare our farms for the rainy season, and even relocate from flood-prone areas—why do we ignore the spiritual warnings all around us? How can we allow birds like the stork to outmatch us in wisdom?

Now is the time to wake up from spiritual slumber. God’s judgment is near. If you are still outside the ark of salvation—Jesus Christ—run to Him now. Surrender with your whole heart. This world is not our home, and it will not last. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the words of Jesus will remain forever (Matthew 24:35).