Jesus is coming back soon. 
 
And yet, in the hustle of our very busy and highly distracted lives, it’s hard to keep on the forefront of our awareness this very real and soon coming reality - Jesus’ imminent return. 
 
This is part of why I felt God was leading me in this season to begin painting, “The Son of Man Returning.” It began with a picture He showed me in my minds eye during worship of a fig being cut in half. This led me to look up all the verses in the Bible regarding fig trees and this verse in particular jumped out at me from Matthew 24:
 
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that He is near, right at the door...
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come. But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”  
 
In reading this passage I suddenly felt the Lord’s urgency to once again remind myself and others that His return is not far off - indeed it will happen when we least expect it if we do not keep watch. We must do now as Joel urges us:
 
"Consecrate a fast; proclaim a solemn assembly!  Gather the elders and all the res