"And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith." (Gal 6:9-10).

In the endless debate over the place of works in the Christian life, one certain truth will always emerge from Scripture. While no amount of works can make an individual a Christian nor justify him or her before a thrice-holy God, neither can a man be considered a Christian without possessing some sort of works. A barren profession is incompatible with genuine faith in Christ Jesus as is evidenced from an abundance of Scriptures, most notably:

So then, it is not a question of whether or not one who calls himself by the name of Christ should possess a life of fruitfulness, full of good works. How could he or she not when the seed of God abides in them:

Long ago, in the creation story in Genesis, we learn that each "seed would produce after its own kind". Now, in conversion, the very life of God is imparted to the soul of man. This life is likened to a seed. Thus, wherever you find the life of God, there you will find the character of God in some degree. This must be so by the very nature of the thing. It is therefore just as much a natural thing for one who possesses this life of God to produce the fruit of holiness, righteousness, and goodness that is in accordance with the nature of God as it is for a grain of corn to produce a cornstalk with a full ear of corn.

In the book of Isaiah, we find the prophet referring to the people of God as "trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3). Now, in an agrarian society such as existed in Israel, a man planted trees for one reason – to obtain fruit from them. He looked forward to the day in which all the toil and labor of his hands would be rewarded by an abundant crop of delectable fruit. A tree that failed to produce fruit therefore was an anomaly, an aberration. It served only to take up useful space in the grove that could be better utilized by another, more productive tree. Observe carefully how the Lord Jesus uses the general awareness of this proposition to declare his sobering parable as recorded in Luke the evangelist’s Gospel.

"A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it, and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I do not find any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.’’(Luke 13:6-9).

These are certainly words that should produce a sobering effect upon all who would bear the name of Christ Jesus. How many opportunities this tree had been given to produce a crop. How it had basked in the sunshine of heaven. How the dews had fallen upon its leaves and the rains had given drink to it. Yet for all that it was barren and empty. To prove the longsuffering of the vineyard-keeper, one more chance would be given it before it would be rendered into fuel for the fire.

In a similar vein, the author of the book of Hebrews speaks:

What both of these texts speak of in particular might best be termed, "the perils of privilege". Our Lord Jesus spoke poignantly to this issue when He stated, "To whom much is given, much is required". It is an inestimable privilege to be brought out of the kingdom of darkness and translated into the kingdom of light. It is an inestimable privilege to have had one’s "heart of stone removed" and a "new heart of flesh" put in its place. It is an inestimable privilege to have had one’s mind opened to understand the truth of God as it is contained in the Scriptures. It is an inestimable privilege to have been made aware of one’s lost and desperate condition by nature. It is an inestimable privilege to have been given, "eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to know". It is an inestimable privilege to have been among the number of God’s elect, to be called by His Name. In short, it is an inestimable privilege to have been made a recipient of the grace of God.

In consequence of this, those who would lay claim to belonging to this privileged company would do well to keep in mind the solemn obligations that rest upon them. In light of this it is an easy thing to see that a barren profession will bring nothing but the wrath and displeasure of God. Those upon whom He has bestowed so much, are expected to show forth the work of His Spirit within them. Though not all Christians are expected to produce the same quantity of fruit as the parable of the Sower and the Seed makes abundantly clear, they are all expected to produce fruit, "some thirty, some sixty and some a hundred fold".

On the other hand, a tree that abundantly produces fruit is prized by its owner. He takes great care with it, prunes it regularly, waters it, fertilizes it, all with the intent to keep it healthy, flourishing and productive. Now this is precisely agrees with the words of the Lord Jesus in the gospel of John.

What is it therefore that the Lord desires from His people that He might be honored by their lives? The answer is quite simple – fruit! Long ago the answer came from the Most High to the question – What does the Lord require of me?

And again,

The true Christians therefore are those who long to be as fruitful as possible so as to bring as much glory to their Lord and Master as they are capable of. They are constantly looking for opportunities to practice acts of kindness, compassion, gentleness, longsuffering, and forgiveness. They learn to look at the circumstances in their life as those which the Providence of God presents them with in order to exercise their graces and call forth these qualities which the Lord desires and so greatly approves of. They view the people that cross their pathway in life as agents sent by their Lord to become recipients of these various gracious acts of kindness and goodness. In short, they desire to exit this life and enter their eternal dwelling in heaven as heavily laden trees, full of fruit for their God who has so gloriously saved and redeemed them.

Christian, how stands it with your profession of faith? Do you actively pray and ask the Lord to grant you opportunities to produce the peaceable fruit of righteousness? Do you seek out occasions in which to display the grace of God before the people that He has brought into your life? Or do you hide your light under a bushel basket of self-centeredness and withdraw into your own world of exclusivity? Are you marked by kindness towards all, even your enemies? Or are you fierce tempered and implacable? Are you known as one who is thoughtful of others? Or have your next door neighbors never once seen you go out of your way to do something thoughtful for them?

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus speaks to us who would be His disciples the following words:

Christian, either you live for the glory of God or you are no Christian at all. What a horrible travesty is it that so many who claim to possess the gospel in truth show so little evidence of Christ-likeness towards their fellow man. They have walled themselves off from the sufferings and heartaches of many of their brethren in Christ. They take no interest in the personal lives of their fellow brothers and sisters and hence never once lift their voices in prayer for them. They are content to make no sacrifice for others. They will not inconvenience themselves in the slightest to come to the aid of their friends and neighbors. While the One whom they call Lord was willing to stoop and wash the feet of His disciples, they will not even they will not take the time to get to know their fellow saints to see how they can better serve them. They give no words of encouragement to a struggling pilgrim on the way to Zion because they are too wrapped up in their own lives to do so. Words of comfort and consolation are scarce found on their lips since they have closed the door to both their heart of compassion and to the available time that they are willing to give of themselves to others and yet somehow they blithely feel all is well with their soul. Oh how these words of Matthew 25 will ring in their ears on that great day! How their own conscience will smite them! What reasons will they vainly plead to excuse their selfishness?

I would challenge you who bear the name of Christ to seek to emulate your Master.

Keep uppermost in your minds the words of the Lord Jesus who said:

And let us all seek grace from above so that we might more fully obey the apostle’s injunction:

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Pastor Dan

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