Be Certain Before He Comes Back

Luke 21:29-38

The Parable of the Fig Tree

29 Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

The Importance of Watching

34 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Jesus told this parable of budding trees and followed that by warning us all of how we live until judgment falls on the world at His return.  The trees begin to bud and we all understand that means spring is here and summer soon follows.  This is a picture of the kingdom of God drawing near as the previous passages told of the signs and seasons of the approaching apocalypse of the end of time judgment.  The immediate promise for the generation Jesus warned was the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem itself in almost forty years as the Romans leveled it.  However, He also was warning about the signs pointing to the very end as certain as the words He spoke for not one word of the Lord ever fails to come true in His time because He is faithful and true (Isaiah 51:6, 1 Peter 1:25, Revelation 19:11).  Because of the impending judgment of all of creation we are to not be carried away with wild abandon and disregard for following the moral law and the word of God as if the cares and concerns of living this life apart from Him are more important than His will to walk circumspectly and that we instead depart from immoral and selfish living.  His return will be entirely unexpected no matter how we attempt to determine the time and day in our own reasoning even by studying the scriptures.  It will be unannounced until the trumpet sounds and the arrival comes as quick as lightning.  We are called therefore to watch and pray until that day as we live for Him alone and not our own passing pleasure.  We can only escape that sentence of judgment if we are in Christ before that day as our only hope and there will be no deathbed confession to alleviate that moment to grant salvation to any who waits until that time.  Now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)!  May we then all do like these who go early to hear His word every morning until we are certain we are in Him before He returns.  Know where you stand with Him and not assume you can wait based on when some say He will return.  Make your calling and election certain (2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10).  Amen.