Lessons from a Fig Tree
Today was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and the temperature began to rise. It felt so good to feel the sun on my face and smell the clean air, hear the birds chirping and know that spring is in the air. People commented all day on how nice it was to see the signs of the new season and hope that winter was finally on its way out.
I was looking over my backyard and noticed that my “Walther” tree is budding and that tulips are starting to emerge from the ground. The grass looks like it is waking up from a long winters nap and everything is starting to come alive except for one tree.
This tree looked bad off last year and we gave it several treatments trying to help it recover, but it did not seem to help. During the last set of winter storms the wind broke off several dried up branches and we will have to cut down the rest of tree.
This tree reminded me of the parable Jesus taught in John 13: 6-9, “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. 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?’” ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
This parable is about repenting and following Jesus. God has graciously given us time to accept His loving sacrifice and we have to make a choice. The ultimate result is found in Luke 13: 3, “No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” The message was for the nation Israel and it’s also for us.
I like the way that (Gotquestions?.org) summarized it, “The lesson for the individual is that borrowed time is not permanent. God’s patience has a limit. In the parable, the vineyard owner grants another year of life to the tree. In the same way, God in His mercy grants us another day, another hour, another breath. Christ stands at the door of each man’s heart knocking and seeking to gain entrance and requiring repentance from sin. But if there is no fruit, no repentance, His patience will come to an end, and the fruitless, unrepentant individual will be cut down. We all live on borrowed time; judgment is near. That is why the prophet Isaiah wrote, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” (Isaiah 55:6-7)
It saddens me that we will have to cut down our tree because it’s so final, it will be no more. But not nearly as much as the thought that many of my family members and friends have not accepted Christ. The bible message is very clear and I definitely do not want that outcome for them.
“In the parable, the gardener, or vineyard keeper who cares for the trees, watering and fertilizing them to bring them to their peak of fruitfulness, represents Jesus, who feeds His people and gives them living water.” I get to represent Jesus to my family and I understand better now the passion of the gardener who pleads for another year to work with the tree.
I needed this message to reignite a passion for the lost, for my lost family and friends. The outcome is final one way or another. God is giving me the opportunity to feed His people and give them living water. It may be one day, one hour or one moment, but whatever it is I want to make the most of it for them and for Him.
My prayer
Father, thank you for Your grace and patience. I know that our time here on earth is limited and I pray that we will make the most of the time we have been blessed with. Open the hearts and minds of my loved ones. Help me to live so they will see You in me. Guide me to moments of sharing Your love and mercy and I pray they will choose You Lord before it’s too late. Thank you for the many parables that are still teaching us today and for Your never ending love. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Where does my help come from?
Psalm 139:16
“Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.”
Isaiah 55:6-7 (NLT)
“Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.”