"A Fruitful Life"

{Mark 11:22}

             There is a fascinating story in Mark chapter 11. In it, Jesus is hungry so He goes out in search of food. Somewhere along the way, He finds a green, lush fig tree. As He draws closer to it, Jesus discovers that it is not bearing fruit – even though it wasn’t yet fruit season. To demonstrate His distaste, He rebuked the tree, causing it to wither and die. Immediately after His rebuke, Jesus and His disciples leave for the temple. Once they were finished at the temple, they made their way back toward the fig tree only to find it, and its roots, withered and dead. Upon seeing it, Peter declares the obvious by pointing its newly rebuked state of being. The most fascinating part of this story is found in Jesus response to Peter, in verse 22. “Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God”’ (ESV).

            It seems at first that Jesus’ reply has nothing to do with the accursed fig tree or Peter’s untimely declaration. In fact, it seems to have nothing to do with the story or instance at all!

            Then I remembered how Jesus took part in the creating work that brought-fourth the universe and the life of this planet. I remembered how that fig tree was part of God’s delicately designed creatures. I even thought about how this simple fig tree may be symbolic of the rest of God’s creatures. Perhaps, this great event was told to remind us (God’s beloved craftsmanship) to bear fruit. Perhaps, we, like the tree, need to produce fruit to perpetuate life. If a tree does not produce fruit, it is in danger of extinction – that very specie will not be able to produce future generations.

            We know from Scripture that we are to bear fruit (Mat. 7:19; Mat. 12:33; Gal. 5:22; Eph. 5:9; etc…). We are to produce the fruit of goodness, kindness, gentleness, love, faithfulness, and self-control. We need to produce fruit so as to perpetuate Life on this planet. When Jesus approaches us, as He did with that tree, what will He find? Will He find any fruit? Will He be forced to tell us to “have faith in God” (Mark 11:22), or will He find us faithfully bearing fruit that glorify Him?

            Maybe, we can understand that bearing fruit starts with faith in a holy God. Perhaps, we can ascertain from this Scripture that a fruitful life is a faith-full life. Let us not wither from the Lord’s rebuke; instead, let us bear (faithfully) the fruit which are pleasing to God – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). Let us live to the fullest with the life we have been given. Let us have faith in God and bring Him glory.

-          Dusty