by Richard Clark, Jr.

It is late February and where I live we are in that period where the weather can’t leave winter behind and it can’t allow spring to wait another day. This season of flux can be frustrating for me and my winter-weary neighbors.

Regardless of what today’s weather may be like, we know that spring is undoubtedly overtaking the long-overspent winter. And we can’t wait for the transition to be completed. Our bulbs will pop up and our dormant trees and bushes will bud and leaf out. Lawns will be verdant again (no I’m not thinking of mowing now!) and days will continue to lengthen.

In the same way that we watch for the signs of the arrival of a new season, Jesus advises us to keep a close watch for His soon coming (see for example Matthew 24:42, Mark 13:33). We must be aware of the signs of the times, the signs that point to Jesus’ coming.

Today we can turn on our local news channel and watch the latest weather forecast for the week. And we pay attention to the forecast. In Jesus’ day, they must have had to be much more attentive to the weather.

In Luke, Jesus laments that although the multitudes listening to him can tell that a cloud in the west means a shower is coming and that a south wind means hot weather, they could not discern the times in which they lived (12:54-56).

And in Matthew, the Jewish religious leaders come to Jesus and ask Him for a sign. He answers by reminding them of their ability to tell if the weather would be fair or foul depending on what time of day the sky is red. But again, He says they cannot discern the time (16:1-4).

To us today, Jesus has given the command to wait and watch. He has given us signs to know that His coming is very near. We can discern the time in which we live. Jesus Himself tells us there will be false prophets and false christs. There will be wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes—but this is just the beginning. (For the complete list, read Matthew 24.)

All these signs are not to make us afraid. In fact, Jesus told us in the middle of the list of these scary signs, "See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet" (Matthew 24:6). Further down the list, Jesus reveals that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the entire world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come (verse 14).    

So as I joyously watch the green of spring paint away the gray of winter, and revel in warmer weather, I want to keep Jesus’ parable in mind:

“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors!" Matthew 24:32, 33.

Richard Clark is assistant editor of Connected magazine.