Luke 21:29-30 (ESV)
[29] And he told them a parable:
“Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. [30] As soon as they come out in
leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near.
We know how to read the signs of
the seasons. We know when it’s time to plant our gardens or winterize our homes
and vehicles. But can we read the signs of the times? Whatever our eschatology,
we ought to see that the kingdom of God is near, but do we live as though that
is true? What does that even look like?
Jesus went on to say in Luke
21:34-36,
[34] “But watch yourselves lest
your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this
life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. [35] For it will come
upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. [36] But stay awake at all
times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are
going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Anticipating Christ’s coming
moves us away from self-focused excess, stress, or defeatism and depression. It
moves us to spiritual alertness, to prayer, and to faith. We can’t see the
future, but God can. We too often live as though nothing should change or will
change. It reminds me of the warning in 2 Peter 3:3-5,
[3] knowing this first of all,
that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own
sinful desires. [4] They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For
ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from
the beginning of creation.” [5] For they deliberately overlook this fact, that
the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through
water by the word of God,
Our timing is not God’s timing,
but the kingdom is near. Our Lord will return. May he find us faithfully alert
in prayer and faith rather than self-indulgence, stress, and despair.
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