Many figs remain on the now barren branches of my fig trees but the fruit is no good. Either it never ripened or by the time it was ready, it tasted fermented. We were concerned when the harvest season began later than usual. During the first few weeks, we enjoyed gallons of delicious fruit, sharing full baskets daily so nothing was wasted.
As nights became cooler, threatening frost, we began picking even nearly ripened fruit. My husband and I are in the habit of eating handfuls from the tree each night but at a point, the flavor changed. Even the birds and bees stopped frequenting the trees. Not wanting to see so much fruit go to waste, I scavenged the trees two nights in a row, tasting exceptionally nice looking pieces, hoping to salvage something. I paid the price in stomach discomfort. All the unharvested fruit, now exposed to the cold, shrivels pitifully in the side yard.
I would guess that Jesus and His followers frequented orchards, fields, and vineyards gleaning more than fresh produce. Many of Jesus’s teachings stemmed from whatever or whomever was at hand, teachable moments as it were. Outside Jerusalem, He cursed a fig tree never to bear fruit again. It was early spring but the tree was in full leaf. It had the appearance of fruitfulness. Alas, nothing. (Why Did Jesus Curse the Fig Tree?)
““A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit.
A tree is identified by its fruit.
Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes.
A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
What you say flows from what is in your heart.”
Luke 6:43-45 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.6.44-45.NLT
“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
Matthew 7:20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.20.NLT
“Therefore bear fruit in keeping with repentance;”
Matthew 3:8 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.3.8.NASB1995
“Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.”
Matthew 3:8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.3.8.NLT
“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
Matthew 6:33 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.33.NLT
What does the world see when they look your way? Does your social presence, including your feed, resemble your day to day behind closed doors persona? In other words, do you practice what you preach? Would your spouse, your kids, your neighbors, and the staff of the coffee shop you frequent agree? Jesus accused the religious elite of being whitewashed tombs, lovely, gleaming white on the outside but full of dead men’s bones and all manner of uncleanness. (Matthew 23:27) We are surely not foolish enough to deny that all sin. (Romans 3:23) We may try to make ourselves the occasional exception but we would only be deceiving ourselves and God is not mocked. There are no gimmes for long days and no room for finger-pointing.
There is more to life than appearances. We are created in the image of God to bear fruit that outlasts this life. (John 15:16) Disciples of Christ are cautioned against relying on anything or anyone in this world, including ourselves. Jesus drives home His point in a vineyard.
““I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.
You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.
Remain in me, and I will remain in you.
For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.
Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.
For apart from me you can do nothing.
Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers.
Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.
But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!
When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples.
This brings great glory to my Father.”
John 15:1-8 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.1-8.NLT
My daughter planted a sister fig to mine in the same year. Mine, though late producing this year, has been incredibly fruitful for three years. Hers is a stunted collection of twigs. We agreed that it needs more sunlight and may need to be transplanted.
“Then Jesus told this story: “A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.
Finally, he said to his gardener, ‘I’ve waited three years, and there hasn’t been a single fig!
Cut it down.
It’s just taking up space in the garden.’
The gardener answered, ‘Sir, give it one more chance.
Leave it another year, and I’ll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.
If we get figs next year, fine.
If not, then you can cut it down.’””
Luke 13:6-9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.13.6-9.NLT
Ask yourself, “Where am I planted in this season?” We are told to be ready to patiently preach the gospel in season and out of season.
“Preach the word of God.
Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.
Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.
They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.
They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.
Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”
2 Timothy 4:2-5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.4.2-5.NLT
““And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for.
Keep on seeking, and you will find.
Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives.
Everyone who seeks, finds.
And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?
Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion?
Of course not!
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.””
Luke 11:9-13 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.11.9-13.NLT
“But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace.
It is being patient, kind and good.
It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself.
There is no law against things of that kind.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross.
They don’t want these things anymore.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:22-25 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/gal.5.22-25.NIRV
Figs thrive in healthy soil when rain is followed by full sun. I can water and prune all year long but nothing I can do compares to what God can accomplish overnight.
“Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.”
Psalms 105:4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.105.4.NLT
“Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit.
All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need.
May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father.
He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
Colossians 1:10-14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/col.1.10-14.NLT
“Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!”
2 Corinthians 9:15 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.9.15.NLT
Fruit That Lasts~Jim Wilson
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