The 94th annual Apple Blossom Festival is underway! Luncheons, dances, tennis tournaments and more are back on track after COVID canceled many of last year’s events. Organizers are gearing up for what looks to be an exciting ten days.
Although the apple orchards in our area have shrunk considerably, we still have several trees, some of which are already in full flower. Depending on the variety, the temperatures, and the location, virtually all of the local apple trees will bloom in the next few weeks.
The blooming of these trees does more than just provide an excuse to party, however. This natural phenomenon signals the coming of much warmer temperatures, longer days, and the good ole summertime!
Although Winchester has only celebrated this occurrence for 94 years, trees have been blooming since creation. In fact, a day or two before Jesus was crucified, He referred to budding trees to make His point. Because apple trees were scarce in Judea, He referred to a fig instead.
In Matthew 24, Jesus had been discussing events that would unfold just prior to His return and the end of the world. He then told His disciples that just as they knew summer was near when the fig trees sprouted leaves, so too they would know that the time was close when they saw certain signs.
What signs did He list? Earlier in that chapter, Jesus assured them that false prophets would come to lead many astray. He mentioned wars and rumors of wars as well as famines and earthquakes in many places. He indicated that nations would rise against other nations and that the persecution of Christians would accelerate.
In his version of the same sermon, Luke records that Jesus mentioned the roaring and tossing of the ocean waves and Mark adds children rebelling against their parents. Of course John mentions several more in Revelation including worldwide plagues.
In Paul’s second letter to Timothy (3:2-5), he states that in the last days, “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power.” This all sounds like yesterdays’ headlines.
Considering the various signs that Jesus told us would precede His return and comparing them with today’s news, it seems to me the fig tree is budding. One would have to be braindead not to see the parallels between these prophecies and current conditions.
Occasionally a tree will get ahead of itself if we have exceptionally warm weather in January. But when all the trees leaf out and the grass greens up and the birds sing their love songs, we’d better make sure our AC is serviced for summer is right around the corner.
Likewise, as we witness the unfolding of world events and the fulfillment of virtually every one of the signs Jesus mentioned, if I wasn’t ready for His return, I’d be getting ready. We do that by turning from our selfishness and sin and accepting the forgiveness and new life that Jesus died to give us. We then live in obedience to His teachings.
Rather than trying to incite fear in His listeners, Jesus instead admonished them (and us) to be prepared. In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus tells us, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with overindulgence, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 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.”
As the valley celebrates another Apple Blossom Festival, may the beautiful flowers on these trees remind us not only that summer is returning, but that Jesus is also. And may we prepare for both accordingly.
Blessings, George