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It was just Austin and me this week. Robbie couldn’t make it (we teased him about hemorrhoids—don’t worry, he’s fine). But the absence gave us room to dive deep into the theme of this episode: Reading the Times with Wisdom.

The Bible describes the men of Issachar as those who “understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). They weren’t known for hot takes, headline-chasing, or despair. They were remembered because they saw reality clearly and responded faithfully. That is exactly what the church needs again today.

Wisdom vs. Blindness

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees in Matthew 16: “You know how to interpret the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.” In other words: what good is knowing tomorrow’s weather if you’re blind to the Messiah in front of you?

Christians face two blind ditches:

* Naïveté— pretending nothing is wrong, even as the walls crumble.

* Despair— throwing up our hands, assuming nothing can be done.

Both are faithless. Wisdom is neither panic nor passivity. Wisdom sees through the smoke with Scripture-colored glasses, and then acts faithfully.

The Ashes of Our Age

What time is it? What must we see clearly in our own day?

* Secularization & Decline– Fewer identify with Christ each year, churches close, pews sit empty, generations grow up without even a memory of biblical faith.

* Competing Worldviews– Scientific materialism, progressive ideology, radical individualism—all counterfeit religions offering counterfeit salvations.

* Institutional Credibility– The church has burned its witness through scandals and compromise. Some pulpits echo the serpent’s question: “Did God really say?”

* Cultural Fragmentation– A thousand curated realities, fed by algorithms. Everyone lives in their own echo chamber.

* Theological Division– Progressive vs. conservative fractures not just politics, but the very definition of the gospel.

* Political Entanglement– Too many churches trade the prophetic voice of Christ for the talking points of Caesar. Others, afraid of politics, retreat into cowardly silence.

These are the ashes of our age. But ashes are what remains after false altars burn. They remind us that idols fall, but Christ’s Kingdom stands.

Sovereignty & Responsibility

Here’s the tension:

* Some respond with fatalism: “God’s sovereign—He’ll fix it. Nothing for us to do.”

* Others respond with pride: “It’s up to us to save Christianity.”

Both miss the mark. God is sovereign, AND He calls us to act faithfully. Sovereignty never cancels responsibility; it guarantees it. Because Christ reigns, our obedience matters.

The early church outlasted Rome. The Reformers recovered the gospel. Revival preachers shook nations. Each was flawed, but each was used by God. Faithfulness doesn’t mean grabbing worldly power. It means being salt and light. We are called to preserve, shine, speak, and endure.

What Ought We to Do?

The men of Issachar weren’t praised for merely watching the times. They knew what to do. So must we.

* Households First– Fathers catechize, mothers order rhythms around worship not screens. Pray together, sing together, feast together.

* Churches Next– Preach Christ, not self-help. Guard the pulpit against compromise. Practice discipline. Let songs be rich with truth, not shallow with sentiment.

* Communities Last– Build brotherhoods, strengthen networks of loyalty, practice hospitality, and engage locally. Don’t wait for national revival while ignoring neighborhood faithfulness.

Exhortation

The false altars of this age will fall, they always do. The question is whether we will fall with them or stand as altars in the ruins.

Read the times. See the smoke. But don’t stop there. Know what to do, and then do it.

This is our moment to be like the men of Issachar. Let us see clearly, live faithfully, and build boldly.

Christ’s Kingdom will stand. So do not despair at the ashes. Instead, worship the King, build His Kingdom, and keep the fire burning.

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