Mat 24:32 Now learn a PARABLE of the fig tree
When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh
A fig tree would not have tender branches newly filled with leaves IF it weren't summer, it would be against all nature. People KNOW when they see the new leaves forming that summer is on its way- it is inevitable.
Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
Christ's return is inevitable.
Christ's return is on the way.
We see the signs. We've lived through so many years that we cannot help but realize that the signs are all there.
Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
This is TRUE. As sign by sign is fulfilled and we hold witness to them we KNOW that the generation witnessing the signs that are fulfilled at the very end will NOT pass away into the next generation without our Savior returning. THIS will happen and people make the grave mistake of believing that there is a fallacy here. They'd rather simply believe that all this is untrue than honestly imagine the words of our Savior coming to pass. It's easy to fall asleep when you are waiting for something and it takes a long time, longer than perhaps expected. I'm very confident in saying that I believe almost everyone in the world at one point or another has fallen asleep as they've waited for something. Many, many people have fallen asleep, in fact the Bible tells us that all fall asleep and it's HOW they awaken that will matter. Will they awaken prepared and ready, or will they have fallen asleep unprepared so that when they wake they are not ready? Before people fall asleep they NEED to be ready, completely ready for our Savior's return.
Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Mat 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,
Mat 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
As it was in the DAYS of Noah- people were going about their lives totally unconcerned with the flood that was going to come upon the earth. Just as today many, many people are totally unconcerned with the end of the world and the return of our Savior. In Noah's day they didn't believe it would happen. Today they don't believe it will happen. People laugh and scoff at those heralding the end of the world and in some ways they are justified - such as when people put a date on that moment and prepare for that date as the end of the world. The days constantly come and go without the end of the world happening and this has led many people to simply laugh at the idea of the world ever ending, and Jesus Christ returning to earth. Just as we can imagine them laughing at Noah as he built that ark- a flood, ha! Yet the flood came leaving many to perish along with their unbelief.
Mat 24:40 Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
Mat 24:41 Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
The situation… our Savior will return and some will be prepared and some will not. It is the same theme in this passage since our Savior told us the parable of the fig tree. When we see things come to pass that point to a future reality we have to know they WILL come to pass. As it was in Noah's day it will be in our day. Christ will return and the dead in Christ will rise and the living in Christ will rise and meet the Lord in the air. The prepared person next to the unprepared will SEE that prepared person rising to meet the Lord in the air, even as they will be destroyed moments later by the brightness of our Lord's coming. The prepared are saved, the unprepared are NOT saved.
Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
WATCH. Be prepared! Look for the signs!
Mat 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
If we know a thief is headed our way we would NOT leave our house vulnerable to being robbed.
We KNOW that the end of the world is coming and we HAVE to WATCH and be ready, or we will suffer the consequences of NOT being prepared.
Mat 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
BE ready! Because our Savior will return when people least expect Him. Remember- all will sleep but we can fall asleep READY. We can be ready even if our Savior comes when we don't expect Him to. We need to be ready ALWAYS! Not a day should go by when we aren't prepared for our Savior's second coming.
Mat 24:45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
Mat 24:46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Those who are ready.
Those who are doing all the Lord tells them they should be doing.
Those who are faithful in serving the Lord will be BLESSED if they continue on in their faithfulness serving Him.
Mat 24:47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
Mat 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
Mat 24:49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
Mat 24:50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
Mat 24:51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
We have a choice! We have to choose to serve our Lord always, faithfully! We have to be prepared. We cannot EVER believe that our Savior will NOT come for us! We have to be FAITHFUL! Many will fall away. Many will lose faith. All will fall asleep but many will fall asleep UNPREPARED.
We've been WARNED!
No one will be able to say that they were not forewarned, NO ONE. That excuse will not be acceptable.
So go ahead call those who are waiting and watching for their Savior's return among the lunatic fringe, they won't mind because those waiting know there are going to be many that will scoff at their belief.
Ready or not, our Savior is going to return, it is my pray, my desire that we are all READY.
We have to keep watching the signs, we have to keep looking at the truth. No one will be able to say they didn't have an opportunity to be saved, no one. Every single person will have that choice. Please Lord let our choice be to know You to be Yours always! Help us to be prepared, to be ready, to be faithfully Your servant!
We do NOT want to be among those weeping and gnashing our teeth!
In Your love, through Your righteousness, by Your grace and mercy in Your forgiveness, ALWAYS!
Amen.
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