Out of all the scriptures contained within the Bible, I find the story of the fig tree to be the most uncomfortable. Jesus' actions surprise me and yet I know there is a reason for doing what He did. Here is a fig tree that happens to lack figs when Jesus walks by. Then He kills it. Literally! When you first consider His actions, they seem cruel. Was Jesus angry? Was Jesus showing off His power? Was Jesus drunk on wine? Well, of course, none of these are the reason. The disciples were caught up in amazement that by simply speaking, Jesus killed a fig tree. I was amazed simply believing His actions were simply contrary to everything I had heard about Him UNTIL you understand why. Jesus' miracles are usually beneficial. Why is this one different? People who adhere to the belief that God is so loving, that He would never destroy mankind have a very hard time with this passage. Matthew 21:19-20, "And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!"
In Romans 11:17-22, God dealt severely with the Israelites. They were not obedient, so God cut them off. And we, the Gentiles, will not be treated any differently. John taught that the rejection of the Jews was fast approaching. (Matthew 3:7-10).
1. The Jews were no longer productive for God.
2. They were no longer obedient to God’s Will.
This is not usual. God had rejected the Jews before (Isaiah 5:1-7).
1. A vineyard that will not produce grapes is not worth cultivating.
2. A people who will not follow God is not worth saving.
3. Fig trees put on fruit before the leaves come out. In fact, did you know the presence of leaves is an indication that the figs are ripe?
4. This tree had leaves, but no figs, not even unripe ones.
**it was a type of the Jews of Jesus’ day. They looked righteous but were unproductive – they had no fruit!
God will not always be tolerant of our misdeeds (Luke 13:6-9.) The Jews thought they were something special because they were God’s chosen people. Unfortunately, Christians can fall into the same trap. We are specially protected from the wrath of God. But we too must be productive for our Lord.
1. We must bear fruit or we will be discarded. (John 15:1-8)
2. vine-dresser does feel sympathy for a dead branch. It is removed before diseases spread to healthy vines.
Some Christians look healthy, but they are not. Some have only a form of godliness - II Timothy 3:5 but are as whited sepulchers... white on the outside, defiled on the inside. Matthew 23:27, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity." Some claim to follow God, but their deeds show otherwise (Titus 1:16). It is not what you claim, but what you claim and do. Far too many Christians will talk about their faith, but their lives show that worldly things are far more important to them.
Are you productive for the Lord? It is imperative that if you are a Christian YOU MUST BEAR FRUIT! It is clear that bearing fruit—the fruit of the Spirit—is the calling of every Christian. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit is not optional in the Christian life. The fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23, is made up of the following nine qualities or gifts: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Bearing fruit is a result of obedience to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Indifference and willful disobedience to God’s will mean I am not truly a Christian—a follower of Christ—and this means I cannot have fellowship with Jesus Christ and the Father. (John 14:15-17; John 14:21,23-24; 1 John 1:6-7) Jesus Himself said that each branch that does not bear fruit is taken away by the Father. Such a thought should awaken all of us to seriousness, but should not lead to discouragement, hopelessness, or heaviness. Rather, it should be an inspiration that we should bear more fruit and have fellowship with Him! So how can you bear fruit? The fruit of the Spirit can only come forth in you by the power of the Spirit. No amount of self-effort will bear spiritual fruit. If you "try" to be good, you'll eventually fail. To bear fruit requires a total surrender of your self-will to God so that you can obey Jesus’ words in the daily situations of life, in order for the fruit of the Spirit to come forth instead of your own nature. Such a total surrender occurs when Jesus is your first love and reigns in your heart and mind. Then it is His will—His Word—that is done in your life, and not our own will. Then the bearing of fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of obeying Jesus’ words—will come forth quite naturally.
Until He comes,
-Pat-
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