THE SECOND CHANCE

OUR FRUIT SPEAKS FOR US

A story is told of a Teacher, who one fine day, was walking down a rugged road lined with many different trees, in deep contemplation, when he thought he heard the trees talking to each other. The Teacher stopped to listen to what the trees were saying. He heard the giant maple trees with their resplendent bright crimson leaves speak in unison across the cluster of apple trees, "Look at our leaves, they rustle in the wind which could be heard from afar.”

The apple trees replied, "We don't need all the fluttering and flapping  to draw attention to ourselves, our fruit speaks for us!"

In the Book of Luke, the Lord Jesus Christ, spoke of fruit bearing in one of His parables. He said:

“A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ “‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’” (Luke 13:6-9, New International Version, ©2011)

Here we have a picture of a fig tree growing in a vineyard. As to how this tree happens to be in the vineyard is not explained, but perhaps the fig tree was already there before the land became a vineyard. The owner of the vineyard saw the unusual presence of this tree among the fruit bearing vine, in his land.  He has been visiting his vineyard but for three years he has never seen the fig tree bear any fruit. The tree was useless to him for it was only taking up space. So one day he called his Caretaker to cut down the tree. The Caretaker must have loved that tree, despite its fruitlessness. He pleaded to his Master if the tree could be spared at least for another year, because he would do something about it. He would dig around it and fertilize it. The Owner consented. If the tree still doesn’t bear fruit after a year then it has to go.  

As I reflect on this parable I cannot help but feel the harshness in the Owner’s feelings towards this unfruitful tree which serves no purpose or gives him no profit. But God’s message goes beyond this harshness for it really speaks of mercy.

I am  led to reflect on the major focus of the parable which is fruit bearing. The fig tree is symbolic of our lives in relation to God which is here represented by the vineyard Owner. I love the Caretaker here, because he interceded and pleaded to his Master to spare the tree and give it the chance to bear fruit. He asked the Master if he could dig around the tree and fertilize it. The Caretaker here no doubt is our Lord Jesus Christ.

The question is, “Are we like that barren fig tree?” The parable is like a pointed arrow piecing the heart.

A man’s life that does not bear fruit for the Glory of God, could not remain in the vineyard of the Lord, that is in God’s Kingdom.  

A man who only lives for himself, is selfish, unbearably self-centered, thankless, doesn’t giving anything, who only takes everything of God’s life giving nutrients, solely for his nourishment, and he couldn’t careless, is like that barren fig tree.  The large barren fig tree with its clusters of green leaves is perhaps symbolic of the pride and pomposity of man.  

The most inspiring thing, though, is the second chance given to this fruitless tree, upon the intercession of the Gardener, if only to bear fruit so it could be spared of the impending doom.

This is the lesson  in the story that speaks directly to me. It reveals the love and the grace of our Lord, who offers us that precious second chance if only we would allow Him to change us, to humble us, to dig deep, around our barren lives  that we might live to bear fruit, to God’s glory.