Lessons from the Fig Tree

If you keep reading Matthew 24, Jesus goes on to provide examples of the signs of the upcoming season.  There are a "darkened sun, a lightless moon, falling stars, and the shaking of the heavenly bodies.  The list goes on, the Son of Man appearing in the sky, the nations of the earth, the power and glory of the Son of Man as he comes on the clouds.  Angels and trumpets, trumpets with some volume, and the gathering of the elect," (Matthew 24:29-31).

That sounds like quite the tumult to me.  Shaking, falling, this way and that way - rather chaotic.  And yet, I know that God is a God of order.  Thus, it is following a plan.  Which reminds me of the way seasons change.  Here in the Midwest, we see snow, rain, sleet, tornadoes, and sudden heat waves plunging into cold snaps as part of the transition into summer.  There are signs present which give us a warning or heads up that the change is coming. 

In much the same way, we have these changing things mentioned as something to make us aware that the Son of Man is coming to gather his elect.  In fact, Jesus goes so far as to point this out with the fig tree lesson.  "As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door.  I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away," (Matthew 24:32-35). 

Lessons from the Fig Tree - enjoy spring!