Luke 13 Part 2

Jesus continues after telling his hearers that they should repent or perish by telling a parable of a fig tree. In verses 1-5 Jesus tells his audience that tragedies do not happen because of a person's infirmities(sins). Although sin has caused this broken world you can not conclude that every sickness, every car wreck, every saint lost, every tsunami, every disaster is because the people at the receiving end of tragedies deserve what befell them.

Jesus points out that life is fleeting and then you stand before God. Nothing can completely prepare you for that moment but I think, dear christian, that we should dwell on this often. Think about standing before the Lion of the Tribe of Judah! The sheer thought should send shivers down your back... you should sit silently for seven days like Ezekiel and contemplate what it will be like to experience the Glory of God. This is not to be taken lightly. Jesus tells the audience to repent or you will likewise perish. Turn from sin. Nail it to the cross. Seek refuge in the arms of Christ. Conquer death by taking up the cross. Save your life by losing it in Christ. Flee God's wrath by running to the living and victorious Jesus!

Then Jesus says this, "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 have 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 will dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'" Jesus tells this parable and the fig tree represents the obstinate Israel or more close to home... you and me. It has no fruit it is worthless and taking up precious nutrients but Jesus, our intercessor and gracious friend, compels the owner (God) to be patient and Jesus himself will tend to the garden of our soul. He will fertilize. He will dig the soil of our hearts to make us a better recipient of nutrients (His grace). He will work on your behalf to help us produce fruit. But be careful friend because even the patience and grace of Jesus is not a forever fixed offer. When the trumpet blows on your life there are no second chances(Matthew 25). There is not an opportunity to fix what you have failed to allow God to fix even though daily he stood at the door and knocked(Rev. 3). Repent now while time allows and praise Jesus for being so gracious with you that he constantly extends your grace period. He just gave you another breath... pause... and another one.... but you are not promised this forever. Make yourself right with God. Repent or you will perish. Jesus is fertilizing your soul. Turn to him and praise his calloused and wounded gardening hands that have bought for you an eternal glory. Worship at the feet of the One alone that can purchase your salvation from the hand of a mighty God.