The Fig Tree
And he spake to them a parable: Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer
is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to
pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto
you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and
earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 21:29-33
Read Luke 21
How must we view the signs that the Lord Jesus has given concerning His
return? What are we to learn from them? The Lord clarified this in our
passage today. He used the coming of the springtime as an example. He
asked the simple question: How do you know that spring has arrived? You
can tell by looking at the fig tree and other trees as well; they begin to bud.
This indicates that spring has arrived. That is also true when it comes to the
Lord’s return; a person cannot predict the exact day on which the Lord is
coming back. But we can say that His return is near, just as one can see that
springtime is near.
The Lord Jesus went on to say: this generation shall not pass away till all
be fulfilled. This statement can be explained in two different ways. Some
people say that the term generation refers to the people living in Jesus’ day.
That meant the people living when He spoke these words would experience
the fall of Jerusalem. The second explanation says that the term refers to the
whole of humanity; mankind will be living on the earth at the Lord’s return.
But in both cases it seems that the Lord wanted to emphasize: Do not think
lightly of these matters. The Lord will perform what He has said; His Word
is reliable and certain; it shall come to pass. Take to heart everything the
Lord has said in His Word, for He will do it.
Thought: Do you believe that the Word of God is true and reliable?
Psalter 152:1,2,3 (based on Psalm 56)
What time I am afraid I put my trust in Thee;
In God I rest, and praise His word, so rich and free.
In God I put my trust, I neither doubt nor fear,
For man can never harm With God my helper near.
In God, the Lord, I rest, His word of grace I praise,
His promise stands secure, Nor fear nor foe dismays.
