PREPARED, By Pastor Mark Boucher

The world is undergoing tremendous changes right before our eyes. We can observe such things as: the push toward a global economy and a one-world financial network, the increased moral decline, and the growing importance of Israel in world politics. These issues (and many more) can be read with your newspaper in one hand and your Bible in the other. So much is happening so quickly that we can get caught up in the news of the moment and forget the importance of “heart preparation.”

Jesus knew exactly what would happen in the world as we approach the time of His second coming. The parable of the fig tree, spoken by Jesus in Luke 21:29-36 focuses our attention on the most important end- time issues. What are these and how do we maintain a readiness of heart? What do we need to avoid?

Jesus began the parable by saying, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees” (Luke 21:29). By observation, we discern summer is near when the trees start sprouting leaves. God’s prophetic “calendar of events” centers on the nation of Israel, God’s fig tree. In 1948, the nation of Israel miraculously sprang up from the ashes of history. What other nation in history, once dissolved, has come back into existence? God has plans for Israel—in spite of man’s opposition. Jesus said, “this generation (or race) will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened” (Luke 21:32).

With the coming tsunami of end-time events, Jesus directs the believer to heart issues. He warned, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap” (v. 34). A heart “weighed down” means to be burdened or depressed. Instead of keeping our focus on Jesus, we are tempted to fixate on the “winds and waves” of problems, and we begin to sink.

Jesus specifically mentions three heart problems that can weigh us down and prevent our being prepared for His coming. First, He talks about dissipation. This word and the next, drunkenness, are closely related. They refer to the problems and headaches caused by a life led by fleshly, evil desires instead of the Holy Spirit. Instead of being sober and sharp, a careless believer slides into the same excesses as those without God. Almost everywhere we look, the emphasis is on losing self-control and casting off decency and self-restraint. Jesus said, “Be careful.” Those who know Him will not get sucked down into the world system but will pursue a life of purity and integrity of heart. Drinking, drugging, and secret sins of the flesh may provide a fleeting thrill, but they will bring your heart down and put a wall between you and God. It’s not worth it!

Jesus also told us to be careful about “the anxieties of life” (v. 34). Make no mistake, the problems and difficulties of life will increase before Jesus returns. We prepare our hearts in these trying times by keeping a close walk with Jesus and staying in fellowship with His people. There’s an expression that goes “everybody’s into something;” that something, hopefully, is a passionate pursuit of Jesus and His Word. I get nervous when I see Christians who are not hungry for Jesus. The void of the heart must be filled by Jesus or something else will take His place.

Jesus ended the parable of the fig tree with these words, “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (v.36). In the end, will you be left standing or will you be just another casualty of our culture?