Verses 1-5 Pontius Pilate was a ruthless ruler. He was violent. Some people told Jesus that Pilate had killed some Galileans and mixed their blood with their sacrifices. Here’s the point to this passage: We cannot judge a person’s sin life by the amount of suffering they go through in this world. Punishment is not always the purpose of pain. Trials come to refine the righteous just as gold purifies in the fire. If you’re not dead, you’re not done.
A Call To Repentance
Jesus tells the people about the tower of Siloam that fell on 18 victims. This is a sobering reminder that, regardless of the circumstances, death can come when we least expect it, both to the righteous and unrighteous. If God actually dealt with us according to our sins, we deserve to die too, like these unfortunate bystanders. Jesus urges his listeners to repent. To make an inner resolve and determination to turn from sin and toward the Lord. We have as much sin to repent of as the 18 people had to suffer for. The goal of repentance is to reverse or avoid divine judgment and the consequences of sin.
Unless we repent of sin, we are subject to temporal judgment, including physical death. Unless the lost repent, they will perish eternally in hell. The judgments of God upon others are loud calls to us to repent. We should repent immediately because the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Jesus wants us to be reunited with Him.
We should repent quickly because death is sure. On the other side of life, heaven awaits us or else hell will steal us.
The Barren Fig Tree
Verses 6-9 This parable follows Jesus’s urging that people repent of sin. Unless repentance reforms us and we let go of the immoral, self-destructive behavior, death awaits us like this fig tree that bore no fruit. The owner ordered his worker to cut the tree down. If no fruit were to come from this tree, then it was just taking up space. Are we an improvement to our old selves?
This story is an awakening for any believer covered by the grace of Jesus and experiences God in their lives. We have an obligation to answer to God for every opportunity given to us. When we know Jesus, we can serve him in joyful obedience with our time, attention, and attitude. It is a powerful testimony to live a life that produces fruit.
With every blessing God gives, there is an expectation that we will offer a portion of this back to Him and serve his people around us. This is the privilege of a fruit-producing life.
The Advantages of a Believer
This fig tree had many advantages, like being planted in a safe vineyard away from the weeds and nurtured in healthy soil (more than other fig trees that commonly grew outside of vineyards).
As a believer, we are fig trees with advantages like protection, provision, comfort, and nurturing. Therefore, God planted us in good soil, rich with opportunities. We have supernatural privileges and powers that unbelievers don’t have.
Our owner, who is God, expects fruit from all the advantages given and He comes looking for it in our lives. Because of his generosity, He seeks evidence of a life that lives the Truth they enjoy reading and finding comfort in. The fruit of being His light and love shows up in our thoughts, words, and actions.
The owner wasn’t asking for perfect fruit, “incredible” fruit, or even an abundance of fruit. He was looking for any fruit at all. He came back every year for three years and there was not a single piece of fruit. A fruitless tree is just taking up space.
If You’re Not Dead, You’re Not Done.
Think about God’s patience for us as we reap the benefits of his kingdom, but show no fruit for it. How many years has God come to us seeking fruit but has found none? Fruitfulness has no age limit. If you’re not dead, you’re not done. The Bible does not record the concept of retirement, where life slows down, is easy, relaxing, and filled with travel. This scripture is a wake-up call to anyone with breath in their lungs.
We want Jesus to find us useful, making a difference, staying active in ministry, with our families, and in life at home. Because of this, the gifts we give and the influence we have will keep bearing fruit after we’re gone.
“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” 1 Corinthians 15:58 NLT
When God finds the foolish simply taking up space, the Bible says the judgments of God will cut barren lives down into the pit of hell.
The worker asked that the owner let him fertilize the tree. If it still bore no fruit next year, then he would cut it down. Jesus is our great intercessor continually standing in our place before God and his judgment and asking for more time, more mercy, and more chances to repent and produce fruit. If you’re not dead, you’re not done.
You’re Only As Good As The Fruit
A fig tree’s use depends on its bearing fruit. What use is a fruit tree that bears no fruit? So it is with our spiritual life. If good fruit is absent from a person’s life, we are just taking up space. Our Creator will bring judgment on a wasted life. Inner repentance leads us to external demonstrations of righteousness. Without visible fruit in our lives, professions of repentance are as good as a barren fig tree.
What are you trying to grow in your life? If life feels over for you, let’s look at what you most enjoy. How can you do that most enjoyable thing for the glory of God? What can you do to serve someone else in Jesus’ name (bring a meal, write a note or letter, send a care package, help on a project, run errands, babysit their children, etc.)? What can you do for your own family, your church, your neighbors, or for someone who God brings to mind? If you’re not dead, you’re not done yet.
We should live a testimony that leaves a legacy. (For five ways how to live a testimony that leaves a legacy that you’re proud of, click the link.)
Pastor John Piper said, “If we are going to make God look glorious in the last years of our lives, we must be satisfied in him. He must be our Treasure. And the life that we live must flow from this all-satisfying Christ. And the life that flows from the soul that lives on Jesus is a life of love and service. This is what will make Christ look great. When our hearts find their rest in Christ, we stop using other people to meet our needs, and instead we make ourselves servants to meet their needs.” (Desiring God)
If you’re not dead, you’re not done.
Prayer
Jesus, you gave me further time and further mercy to come back and abandon my unrighteous living. My immoral bent toward sin. I don’t want to be a disappointment to your kingdom. I want to live up to your expectations for every opportunity you grant me. Help me fulfill the duties in front of me and serve in every privilege offered to me. My soul is wretched. The years I’ve wasted living for myself are worthless. They are years that would have burned up in the pit of hell if it wasn’t for your extension of time that offered me mercy to turn around, to repent, to seek you on my face for forgiveness.
As I struggle to see the opportunities ripe with fruit in front of me, open my eyes, Jesus, to my finances that are ripe with fruit, my skills that are ripe with fruit, and your words for me that are ready and ripe. May the harvest of this fruit be to the praise and honor of your name, Jesus. Thank you for providing for me, Jesus. For protecting me. Equip me with more, Jesus, so that I may give more away. Holy Spirit, multiply the fruit with every advantage you give me. I am grateful for the awakening in my heart so that I can bring forth your fruit in my life with every privilege you give, Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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Cited: John Piper, “Getting Old for the Glory of God,” Desiring God, September 30, 2007