To look for fruit on a tree
Luke 13:6-9; BCBC/IOUC; 6/27/2021; Rev. Paul Wang
Introduction
To understand these bible verses, we have to begin from the previous five verses, otherwise we can easily be confused. Today’s key point is repent not self-righteous pride. The judgments from Job’s three friends and the event that Siloam tower collapsed and killed 18 people can not influence the truth that people must repent. Let’s look at the first point:
The reason to find the fruit
In the gospel book, the story about Jesus looking for fruit does not only occur once, right? The sin of the human being is because Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the forbidden tree, right? First, who is the gardener? If we ask who has the authority to look for fruit, isn’t it the gardener? Jesus said:’I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (John 15:1)’ Jesus used himself as an example to illustrate that Heavenly Father is the creator and he is the gardener. Therefore, when the gardener comes to look for fruit on a tree, it is not only reasonable, but also has sufficient authority. Do you agree? He is a potter, and we are vessels in his hands. He can do whatever he sees good, right? The expectation of God in our life is to bear fruit as much as possible, do you bear fruits?
Second, what was planted? Don’t you feel strange? Why was a fig tree planted in the vineyard? The gardener came to the vineyard to look for fruit on the fig tree with authority. What is going on here? We know that grapes are a bunch of fruits. How do you feel if you are a fig tree here? Are you jealous or in admiration? Are you learning or destroying? All depends on our minds and thoughts. What you reap is what you plant, do you agree? If you don’t have joy, peace, inbearance, and even no kindness, how can you expect your kids to have the fruit of the Holy Spirit? Don’t you know that you are the one who plants for the fruits of your kids?
Lastly, what was not found? This person didn’t give up. The Bible said he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. No fruit is worse than bad fruit, have you thought about the reason? Is it possible the fig tree is dead, or was planted with bitterness? This has the similarity with the life growing after we believe in the Lord, right? Normally, the original purpose to believe the Lord is with some motives which might not be in God’s willingness, right？ But we inquire why we can not hear God’s voice? Why can we not experience peace and joy? Why do we always worry about loss and gain and can not live in faith? Return to the original love! Do you really know God, is he really your Lord? Let’s look at the second point:
Waiting for your change
God creates human beings and let them be steward, to manage all the things He created. We took over the vineyard and planted this fig tree, but it doesn’t bear fruit. What should we do? First, a reminder of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord comes, it is the start of the judgment. Before that, the Holy Spirit will continue to complete God’s salvation work. Our lives should already bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit, but we can not. There is no change in our life before and after we believe in Jesus. Stealing, robbing, eating, drinking and having fun are still our daily life styles. Reading the Bible, not understanding! Praying, no interests! Serving God, no passion! Sunday worship, hide or not come if you can. Now the Holy Spirit should already talk to you: Why should it use up the soil? If it continues, God will cut off the tree which does not bear fruit!
Second, the signal to watch. What is being watchful? Being watchful is being told in advance of the danger in order to be prepared. The reminder is God will judge us and the evidence of judgment is to see whether we bore fruits or not. After we believe in the Lord, the Holy Spirit is always our companion. Time passed day by day, winter went to spring, summer to autumn. After three years, the Holy Spirit comes to look for fruits from this fig tree and can not, what a feeling! What should we do? Leave it as it is? Continue to eliminate the movement of the Holy Spirit? At this time, the Holy Spirit may draw a line with you! It is not a big issue, just cut off the tree which can not bear fruits! The reason you already know, that is why should it use up the soil?
Lastly, opportunity to repent. The Lord is love and He is always willing to give us the opportunities. At this time, the Holy Spirit is moving us again. “Sir, ’the man replied, ’leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. (Luke 13:8)“ It means that the man who took care of the vineyard knows where the problem is, right? The soil was not loosened for three years. No fertilization, how can the tree bear fruits? To loosen the soil is to change our bad habits in our life including how we use our time and money. Fertilization is to be strengthened, be shown mercy, be renewed, include joining our Sunday Worship, attending discipleship training course, prayer meeting, dedicating to serve, and so on. Let’s look at the third point:
The outcome of being cut down
Whether we are willing or not, God’s judgment will come, do you believe it? May I ask, are you prepared? If God comes tonight, what’s the outcome of your life? First, judgment starts from God’s home. Having been connected to the branch of Jesus Christ, why can not we bear fruits? Jesus said: ’He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.(John 15:2)’ The Lord has already told it clearly, right? We were not vine trees, but God let the fig tree grow together with vine trees in the garden. As we were wild branches in God’s salvation and are connected to the true vine tree because of Jesus Christ, how can we dare not to live in Jesus Christ always?
Second, God expects your repentance. Again and again, God gives us the opportunity to bear fruit. But after three years, still no fruit. Now, we are willing to repent and seize the last opportunity in the end days to bear more and more fruits for the Lord! God says, okay, the opportunities are given and I am waiting for reaping the fruits! ’If it bears fruit next year, fine!’, which does not mean that we deserve this opportunity but the opportunity can pass by fast and is precious! If you are still living a worldly life and don’t give the authority of your life to the Lord, then repent! God is near!
Lastly, the axe will fall on the one who does not repent. The opportunity is given, and the time is almost up. Are you ready? One thing I am not willing you don’t know, that is, God will cut off the fig tree which can not bear fruit! Not ruthless but already giving grace, say:’If not, then cut it down.’ If, is the sign of giving grace, do you see it? Do you hear it? Of course God is not a nice man. He has mercy and love, and even more He has holiness and righteousness! He can keep his boundary and say no to filth and evil! Are you unwilling to repent? Then go to the place without repenting! Are you still unwilling to repent? Are you determined to not repent even to death? From now on, you are living in hell!
Conclusion
Dear brothers and sisters, God comes to the fig tree of each one’s life to find the fruit. He will! Do you still want to ask Him the reason for finding the fruit? Do you know that God is waiting for your change? In today’s world, have you not seen the signs of the last days? God is near, have you not noticed? The axe of judgment has been raised, the outcome of cutting down has already been affirmed, are you still not repenting?
Let us pray……
(Luke13:6 NIV)Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any.
(Luke13:7 NIV)So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
(Luke13:8 NIV)“ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it.
(Luke13:9 NIV)If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
