But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Here the Teacher converses with some people about bad news of the day. News of suffering and of tragedy!
Accidents happen in our fallen world. Sometimes evil men bring suffering to others.
Jesus is a preacher of repentance. He uses the opportunity to point out the disastrous end awaiting all sinners who fail to repent and turn to God.
Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted 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 treeand haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'
In this story Jesus lets everyone know that God expects the fruit of changed lives in His garden of humanity. In fact, for nearly three years Jesus will preach and teach this message in the cities of the nation of Israel.
This is a lesson about everyone’s personal accountability to God.
And this is what being a student of the Teacher is all about. Bearing the fruit of a changed character! A life that increasingly looks more and more like the life of Jesus.
Jesus also reveals God is extremely patient with us.
“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."
Yet there is an end to His patience. And end of opportunity to repent and bear fruit for God!
Many times people struggle with reasoning behind tragedy. There are some things that seem to be unexplainable. It's the subject of Job. It's been the faith challenge of many. Why do bad things happen? (especially to good people!)
ReplyDeleteJesus somewhat addresses this - without getting deeply into it - he simply says - make sure you are right (repent.)
But there are times when that doesn't seem good enough for us. We want to know - we demand an answer.
While it seems to simplify the subject - the truth is there are times when we don't know nor could we really understand why what happens happens. (Read Job!)
Jesus instructs: repent, and bear fruit.
Make sure no matter what that we are right with God.
Hard to sometimes accept? Yes.
Important? Extremely.
How do you handle challenges to your faith?