MEDITATIONS FROM THE PARABLES OF JESUS
THE LIGHTNING
AND THE SIGN OF THE FIG TREE
Read Matthew 24:27,32-33
Jesus compares His return on the Last
Day to a flash of lightning coming out of the east and shining to the west. Our
Lord Jesus will return quickly and suddenly--"in a moment, in the
twinkling of an eye" (I Cor.
While we do not know the day or hour of Christ's return, we do not need to be caught off guard. We can tell from a fig tree (or from other deciduous trees), when they sprout and put forth new leaves, that summer is near. So also, we should know that with the fulfillment of the signs spoken of in Matthew, chapter 24, the Day of Christ's return is imminent, "even at the doors." Since all these things have happened and the Gospel has been "preached in all the world" (v.14), we can soon expect to see "the powers of the heavens . . shaken" (v.29) and the return of Jesus Christ to judge the living and the dead!
If you wanted to take a still photograph of a flash of lightning, you would never catch it on film if you waited until you saw the lightning streak across the sky and then lifted your camera to shoot. You would always be too late! In order to catch a streak of lightning with a still camera, you must point the camera in the direction of the threatening clouds, open the shutter, and wait until the lightning strikes. In the same way, if we want to be found in the faith at Christ's return, we cannot wait until we see Him coming in glory! Instead we should take note of the imminent return of Christ, turn from our sins to Him for salvation, and look for His coming to take us and all other believers to be with Him in heaven.
Great God, what do I see and hear? the end of things created; the Judge of mankind doth appear on clouds of glory seated. The trumpet sounds; the graves restore the dead which they contained before: prepare, my soul, to meet Him. Amen. (TLH, Hymn #604, Verse 1)