April 3, 2012
In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" And immediately the fig tree withered up. -- Matthew 21: 18-19 (NLT)
Continuing on the road to the cross and trying to learn from the last week Jesus had on earth, we find this short story about the fig tree with some very large implications for our lives. As always, God never wastes one letter in His Word.
The first lesson to realize here is that the mere appearance of fruitfulness is not acceptable to God. I notice that the Word here says that there were no figs, but there were only leaves. Leaves give the appearance of a healthy plant. They provide color for people to see and give the false impression that everything is ok with the plant itself. Such is how it can be in our walks and in the lives of our churches as well. People ask how we are doing and we exclaim' "blessed and highly favored!" Meanwhile we are not and if people knew the true state of our walk they might not look at us the same way. In the church it can be even more serious. We can put on the fanciest worship, hit all the high notes, have the best paint job, have the most charismatic preaching, and in the end none of it matters if behind the leaves of our religiosity there is not fruit being borne via the Spirit of God. Church is not supposed to be entertainment for the saved but a hospital for the dying. Unfortunately, it can be too often that churches can lapse into using worldly metrics to measure success. They can spend more time focusing on having the prettiest leaves in the neighborhood but when you pull those leaves aside they are barren.
The second lesson here is that Jesus expects fruitfulness from us and from His church. We were not saved without a calling and a purpose and the Bible says that they are irrevocable. Our purpose as individuals and as a church is to bear the expected fruit. Jesus approached the fig tree expecting to find figs because that was why the fig tree was created. The church was created to bear fruit as well and Jesus expects to find it when He comes looking for it. Fruit is not measured in attendance. It is not measured by the sinner's prayer. It is not measured by the extravagance of your programs or how much money you were able to collect. Fruit for a church is measured in the eternal. How many hearts are truly regenerated in the church not just responding to an altar call? How many are truly being discipled within that church? Is the Word brought forth uncompromised or are there cracks in the theology presented? Does the worship focus solely on the one living God or is it showy and man-centered? Fruit is not defined by man but by God and He will be looking for it.
The last lesson is there is a consequence for unfruitfulness. We live in a society and a church culture that tends to ignore consequences. There is a consequence for sin. There is a heaven and there is a hell. Likewise, there is a consequence for not bearing the fruit we are supposed to bear. In the individual you run the risk of callousing over the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Of losing navigation of what is right and wrong. That is how people think they are saved yet behave in manners that are so contrary to God. They no longer can feel the conviction. In the church, the Spirit will not stay where it is not welcome. You cannot compromise with the things of this world and then expect a grand move of the Spirit of God the next day. It simply does not work like that! Heaven forbid that Jesus would ever come looking for the fruit in my life or in my churches life and be forced to say -- may you never bear fruit again!
Rev. Anthony
