Tag Archives: this generation

THE GOSPEL OF MARK – THE LESSON OF THE FIG TREE

Bible Study, ,

THE LESSON OF THE FIG TREE

28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Mark 13:28-31

Awareness is a key thought throughout Scripture. Being aware enables a person to be alert and discerning in this war zone we live in. The enemy is relentless in his desire to deceive and the only protection we have is awareness of truth which the Holy Spirit constantly brings to our attention as the antidote to the devil’s lies.

Jesus called His disciples’ attention to the fig tree as an illustration of awareness. Just as the tiny green shoots on a fig tree are the sign of summer’s return, so there are signs of the nearness of Jesus’ return. Since He was responding to their two-layered question, i.e., the destruction of the temple – to which He had referred – and the end of time, His reply would take in both situations even though they would be separated by many centuries. As with many prophecies, there would be two-layered fulfillment, the latter being a mirror of the former.

Just as Jerusalem and the temple would be razed to the ground, so everything that does not belong to the truth will be destroyed at His coming. Jesus came to His own people, but they rejected Him and judgment finally fell on them and the city as a result. His message went out to the world but the world also refused Him and, consequently, judgement will fall on the world as well.

There is nothing one can do about natural disasters and wars between nations. One may be caught up in them; one may be able, to a certain extent, to escape them, but one can do nothing to stop them. However, there is something we can do about deception. If we fall for the lies, it is because we have not known the truth. We have the responsibility of soaking our minds in God’s Word which Jesus said is not perishable like the world around us. Knowing the truth is the only protection we have against deception because the truth in us is the Holy Spirit’s fuel that lights the way.

In this situation, I,e, the certainty of coming judgment, the truth we need to cling to is the promise of eternal life for those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead.

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life John 5:24

A Greater Than Jonah is Here!

Christian Life, , ,

A GREATER THAN JONAH IS HERE

“‘On Judgment Day the Ninevites will stand up and give evidence that will condemn this generation because, when Jonah preached to them, they changed their lives. A far greater preacher than Jonah is here, and you squabble about ‘proofs’. On Judgment Day the Queen of Sheba will come forward and bring evidence that condemns this generation because she travelled from a far corner of the earth to listen to wise Solomon. Wisdom far greater than Solomon’s is right in front of you and you quibble about ‘evidence’.‘”Luke 11:31, 32 (The Message).

Jesus condemned the people of His generation because they refused to accept the evidence staring them in the face that His words, His works and His ways all testified to His identity as the Son of God. They preferred to keep following Him around and demanding signs because He was the latest person on the popularity polls.

Jesus  held up both the Ninevites and the Queen of Sheba  as examples of people with more discernment than the people of God in Israel. They had only one opportunity – the Ninevites were pagans, the cruellest nation on earth in their day – and God sent a prophet to warn them of the consequences of their ways. Their response was startling, considering Jonah’s five-word message! They repented to a man, and God spared them.

The Queen of Sheba came from far, probably from Africa; no jet airliner to transport her, not even a motorised vehicle on a tar road. But she made the effort to listen to a mere man because of his supernatural wisdom.

The people of Jesus’ day had the very Son of God with them, teaching them and demonstrating the kingdom of God with signs and wonders and they refused to believe Him.

But what of my generation? When I read magazines, watch TV, listen to the radio, I am aware that God is conspicuously absent. The only mention of God is the use of His name as an expletive. How blind are people today! The evidence of God’s presence is everywhere – “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Psalm 19:1 (NIV).

Just like the Apostle Paul’s contemporaries, this generation stands guilty before God. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse.” Romans 1:18-20 (NIV).

No generation has had more opportunity to discover the truth about God than this one. His Word blankets the earth in both written and spoken form and yet…godlessness and wickedness are on the increase. What chance does this generation have if the people in Jesus’ day stood guilty and condemned before God because they refused to believe?