Are you Bearing Fruit?

Now, early in the morning, as Jesus was coming back to the city, He was hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree at the roadside, He went to it and found nothing but leaves on it; and He said to it, “Never again will fruit come from you.” And at once the fig tree withered.…” Mark 21:18-22

The barren Fig Tree appeared to bear fruit but was empty of anything valuable. Jesus warns us not to be misled by appearances but to focus on “The fruit.” When the disciples saw the tree’s leaves, they assumed it would yield fruit during its due season.

The purpose of the leaves is to generate nourishment and safeguard the seed as it matures into quality fruit. The barren tree seemed promising due to its beautiful leaves. This led us to believe it was fruitful, yet behind those leaves, no flowers were forming, nor was fruit being produced.

As Jesus approached to examine the tree, He found no signs of any forthcoming fruit. This serves as a caution; do not let the deceptive nature of appearances lead you astray, so He cursed the tree. Why? We often forget that our fruit (gifts) isn’t intended for us. It’s actually intended for those passing by.

Similar to the way this tree looks, we must take a closer look before allowing someone to influence our lives. Is thier “fruit good” or do thier leaves appear appealing? Have you thought about whether this is a fruit you would like to consume and reproduce? This calls for us to stop and observe their life, how they interact with others, thier character and qualities, and whether they possess the fruits of the Spirit. If they don’t reflect Christ, overlooking these indicators may result in us being misled, hurt, and deceived.

Many of us can be deceived, much like this fig tree. Why does this happen? We need to constantly assess the state of our hearts and desires ( what we crave). If we focus on a “fig tree” that looks like what we desire rather than the “One” we genuinely need, we must be cautious! This scenario occurs when we neglect to let the Holy Spirit, through the scripture, feed our body, soul, mind, and spirit. When we turn our gaze towards Him, it strengthens our faith and allows us to perceive beyond the physical world.

If we articulate our beliefs and possess a solid understanding of scripture, yet remain unfruitful, we are no different from this fig tree. Why is this the case? Being religious doesn’t necessitate faith! What it truly requires is faith (a personal trust and confidence in Him). When we live by faith, the scripture tells us,“…you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain,’ be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”  This occurs when we cultivate intimacy with Christ by dedicating time to reflect, draw near, and allow Him to reveal and eliminate any aspects that contradict His nature.

I challenge you to take a moment and consider whether you tend to follow mere appearances or seek genuine fruit. This is especially crucial if we are hesitant to confront our issues of the heart. By reflecting on our hearts, we can avoid becoming false prophets, much like the “Barren Fig Tree,” and protect ourselves from being misled or misleading others.

Keep in mind, you will reflect what we choose to follow (the fruit you eat)! Who are you following: appearances or Jesus Christ?