Fruit

“Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance.” Matthew 3:8.

It is not enough to say, “Now I am converted.” Works have to follow this statement to prove that the mouth speaks the truth, and that God ap­proves of them. Otherwise we will eventually be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Even in the old covenant those who were godfearing had the un­derstanding that their life must not be without fruit. The fruit also had to be good, worthy of the light and the understanding they had—over and above that of the Gentiles. By their preaching, the prophets had created a soil in the hearts of the upright that was receptive to the seed of life which Jesus sowed; nevertheless, the Pharisees and scribes resisted Him. The apostles continued in Jesus’ steps. In Tit. 3:14, Paul says, “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” This word tells us that if we are without works, we are also without fruit.

This is also the exhortation of God’s servants in our days, so that the ears of the upright might be opened. However, it is a laborious task, because people would rather have the fruit, than bear fruit themselves. The Jews claimed Abraham as their father, but only a few of them desired to do the works of their father, Abraham. It is the same train of thought that manifests itself in these days when some­one is converted and does not do the works that are worthy of his conversion, with zeal and enthusiasm. Now is the time for us to dig around the tree and care for it, so that it can bear good fruit. Now is the time of maturing. It is certainly possible to be along and have all the external things in order, yet our life’s fruit is not edible and its leaves are not for the healing of the nations.

Love, joy, and peace are beautiful and precious fruits that are the result of finding our life and losing it; but he who loves his life will lose it when the fruits of his life are put into God’s winepress. Our self-life cannot bear fruits that are worthy of repentance. Our best works are full of self-life; therefore they are cursed. But he who keeps his self-life dead by means of the cross, will have his fruit to sanctifi­cation and in the end, everlasting life. Romans 6:22.