Spring was in the air, and summer was coming! There were a lot of people going to the beach! In southern California the weather is good all year and they do not have snow or very cold weather. The birds do not fly south for the winter and the trees do not lose their leaves. The best way Gus could tell what season he was in was by seeing how many people were going to the beaches on the ocean. When spring started there were a lot more people on the beaches, and during summer there were even more people!
All those people on the beach during their spring break from school got hungry and they wanted to buy food from Gus! Gus was busy all day! The people started getting hungry during the middle of the morning and it did not slow down until after the sun went down! Gus did not mind, he liked spring, and summer. Spring was a season of change, there is a new beginning in nature. Spring always made Gus feel like there were good things ahead!
That night Gus was too tired to read his Bible before he fell asleep, so he promised himself that he would read his Bible first thing in the morning! The next morning Gus got up just as the sun was rising and he opened his Bible to read another parable told by Jesus.
Gus could not believe his eyes! The parable he was reading was about spring and summer!
In Luke 21:29-33 Jesus says:
“Notice the fig tree, or any other tree. When the leaves come out, you know without being told that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that the Kingdom of God is near. I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but My words will never disappear.”
Gus was amazed! Just like new leaves on trees (and seeing more people on the beach) show that spring is here, and summer is coming,
Jesus said that there are things that show that the Kingdom of God is near. But what are the things that Jesus was talking about? Gus found the answer earlier in the same chapter of the Bible.
In Luke 21:10-11 Jesus says:
“Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven.”
In Luke 21:25-28 Jesus says:
“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heaves will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man (Jesus) coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!”
Gus was speechless! Jesus is coming back to earth someday and there are signs to show when His coming is near! The news and the internet are full of stories about war, there is a world-wide pandemic and nature seems to have gone crazy! Jesus could be coming back to earth very soon!
Gus wrote in the Gus-Bus Eternal Journal:
Today I learned about the parable of the fig tree! Just like buds on a tree mean that spring is here, and summer is coming, the wars, sicknesses, and the craziness of nature show that the coming of Jesus is getting closer and closer! A Christian does not need to be afraid and live in fear during this time. ‘Our salvation is drawing near’! Come quickly, Lord Jesus!