Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. Mark 11:13-14, NIV
Having grown up in the rural South I can tell you at one time a staple plant in everyone’s yard or garden was a fig tree. In fact, I was reading recently an article on traditional Southern gardens which proclaimed the fig tree an absolute essential plant for gardens because of their wonderful green foliage in warmer months and their magnificent “bone” structure in the colder months.
So there you have it—fig trees are a good thing. However, who wants a fruit tree that doesn’t produce…even if it does have pretty leaves and a great bone structure? When Jesus was hungry and walked up to a fig tree with no figs upon it, he cursed it. The next day, the disciples noticed the tree had withered away down to its roots.
What is the significance of the fig tree in the verses above; especially considering it was not even the season for figs? It is this: you may look like a really good Christian and you may act like a really good Christian but, my friends, the proof is in the pudding—are you producing fruit?
The significance of the fig tree is that God is displeased with those who pretend to be what they are not and He will not withhold His judgment from them. Also, as a Christian, you don’t have a particular season to produce fruit—you should always be working to produce fruit for the Father.
In John 15, verses 1-8, Jesus says He is the vine and His Father is the gardener. As the gardener, the Father cuts off the branches that bear no fruit and burns them. The branches that do bear fruit are pruned (or cleaned) so that they may be even more fruitful. As branches, we can do nothing on our own, but can only bear fruit through and because of the vine—Christ Jesus. Why bear fruit? Verse 8 tells us: “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”
Are you working for the Father’s glory; bearing fruit and showing yourselves to be a disciple of Christ? Or have you become satisfied and complacent with just playing the part and looking good? Do you feel the Holy Spirit tugging at your heart, convicting you of unconfessed sin which has shut down fruit production all together? Or perhaps you are under conviction to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. Whatever your need is, go to the Lord in prayer. Call upon Him today; He’s waiting to hear from you.
God Bless!
