Years
ago when our family lived in Connecticut, we went to an apple orchard that was
located in a town nearby. I remember it was the start of the fall season and
the leaves on the trees were starting to turn colors (if you have ever been in
New England in the autumn you know what a treat it is). But what was most
exciting was trying and buying sacks of the different types of apples that they
grew. They were Fantastic! Best I’ve ever had.
Every farmer knows that if you want to have a good yield at harvest time, they
are many things to consider; the type of soil, what time of year to plant, the
type of apples you want to grow and the climate, because certain apples won’t
grow in every climate. All these factors contribute to the tree having a
healthy root system. If the roots are not healthy it will not produce good
fruit.
In Matthew chapter seven Jesus, in his ‘sermon on the mount’ sermon, talks
about fruit.
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Verses 15 and 16)
False prophets are ones that claim to
speak for God, but they are liars. They lie and deceive people in order to gain
an advantage over them. Israel had been plagued by false prophets for thousands
of years. Jesus said that they would be known by their fruit, or
characteristics that they produced in their lives.
“Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistle? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”
“Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistle? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.”
Farming was
a big part of their culture so everyone in the audience that day could relate
to the words of Jesus. If the roots are bad then the fruit that it produces
will be bad.
We ALL have our roots in the line of Adam. His disobedience didn’t just
affect him, but contaminated the entire bloodline (Romans 5:12). It’s no wonder
why, for the most part, man’s works are evil – because the roots of this tree
are rotten.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strife, jealousy, wrath, selfishness, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of which I tell you beforehand, as I have also told you in time past, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5: 19-21) Yuck!These are the works of the flesh, brought about by the corrupt roots of the tree. The problem was that we couldn’t fix the problem. This is the bloodline that we were born into. It says in Ephesians that we were all born into sin (Ephesians 2:3). Not so much because of the sins that we have committed, but by the roots of the “family tree”.
But
because we have believed in Jesus Christ, we now have a new root - a better
root system. We have now been “planted together” with Jesus Christ
(Romans 6:5). Now whenever the body of Christ prospers, we prosper. Furthermore,
if we stay in fellowship with God and obey His Word, we will produce the fruit
of the spirit,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22 and 23)
It is interesting to note that these
were the same kind of traits found in Jesus Christ. The great thing is we don’t
have to work to produce this fruit. The good tree will naturally produce good
fruit. We don’t have to make ourselves be more loving or make ourselves be more
kind. We will naturally produce this kind of fruit because we belong to a good
tree - the best tree. The key to bearing this good fruit is to stay connected
to the source of growth, Jesus Christ,
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4 and 5)
So keep growing, for you
will produce good fruit.
Love Always, Ray
