The Story of a Fig Tree

Jesus told about 50 parables, which are stories to help us understand important things. One of them is a story about a fig tree. In the story a man had a fig tree planted. After three years he noticed the tree was still not bearing any fruit. He gave instructions to his caretaker to cut the tree down so it wouldn’t be taking up space anymore. The caretaker asked for one more year in which he would dig around the roots and fertilize it to see if it helped (Luke 13:6-9). The story is part of a larger context where Jesus is talking about the need of repentance. Some people then didn’t think they had anything to repent about. Jesus was very up front with his audience as he let them know we all are sinners and in need of repenting.

The parable demonstrates the inevitable fact that we will all answer to God. He knows our motives and sees whether there is the fruit of true repentance in our lives. The story also highlights the incredible grace of the Lord Jesus as he ask for more time so that we can respond. He takes the initiative to dig around and fertilize so that there can be fruit. How wonderful is his mercy!

I have met people over the years who are offended by the idea of being called a sinner. The Bible sees all of us as sinners. We are either forgiven sinners or sinners who have not yet repented. Paul writes in the letter to the Romans “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). It is the idea that our lives are like an arrow that has missed the target, which is the perfection of God. Jesus makes it very clear that sin is universal and it brings death—eternal death. We are all guilty and therefore in need of repentance.

Repentance is not an emotional experience that proves you are sorry. It may be that, but that is not the proof. Repentance is not some kind of penance where you pay for your sins. Repentance is a true change of mind, heart and attitude which is reflected in a change of actions and a departure of previous sinful conduct.

If there is no fruit of repentance in your life, then please see the time you have as God’s grace given you as the opportunity to repent and ask God for his forgiveness. To ignore the guilt and sin in our lives is utter folly. To receive God’s forgiveness is the best decision we will ever make.

Loving Our Nation

In just two weeks we face the biggest and most important election in my lifetime. The issues facing us as a people are enormous. This election has come down to two very flawed candidates: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. One of them will, however, be president in two weeks. As in every General Election it gets tiring listening to all the junk we all have to put up with. Sorting out the lies from the truth is imperative, especially when the Media is doing a big part of the lying.

The most important difference between the two candidates can be seen in who they say they would appoint to the Supreme Court and to cabinet positions. For example, on the court Hillary says all her picks have to support Roe v. Wade. She emphatically declared on national television that an unborn child, even hours before birth, does not have constitutional rights. Interpreted that means that she does not believe that baby is human. That is the same decision that Chief Justice Taney handed down in 1857 that stated that slaves did not have constitutional rights. We fought a war and lost 600,000 soldiers to settle that issue. Trump has named men and women who believe babies are human beings and that partial-birth-abortion is wrong. They also believe the constitution should be interpreted in the context of what the founders wanted it to say and not what liberal justices want it to say.

A second major difference in the two candidates is their view of the country. Clinton believes we should continue our move toward socialism that Obama has so capably implemented. We now have nearly 100 million people not working and living off what the working people make. She will raise payroll taxes and reduce the amount of money people take home each week. She will do this because she believes the government knows better how to spend our money than we do. Trump on the other hand will cut taxes allowing each of us to take home more of our hard earned money. Under Kennedy and Reagan tax cuts brought a revival of growth to the economy.

Clinton’s view of the world would bring the U.S. under more domination of the United Nations, while Trump would strengthen our independence. Clinton would deplete even further the military, while Trump would strengthen it. Clinton would gain more control over our daily lives through the agencies of the federal government by growing the government, while Trump would reduce the size of government.

This election is too important to sit out. As Christians we have to vote for the candidate that is closer to our biblical world view. Please pray that millions of Evangelical Christians will go to the polls on November 8^th.