What, Wait, It’s Not About Figs?
“And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’””
Luke 13:6-9
What do we have to do with a fig tree? Jesus didn’t tell this parable about the fig tree to be entertaining or informative. In the first 6 verses of Luke chapter 13 Jesus made one point clear: you and I are sinners. In this condition we have only two options: repent…or perish.
The parable of the fig explains the message Jesus gives to “repent or perish.” We belong to God-like the fig tree belonged to the fig grower. God has every right to expect that we “bear fruit.” He is Creator of all. He waits for us to turn from our sins (repent) and use the gifts He has given us to glorify Him (like the fig is to bear figs)
God is extraordinarily patient. It is a mistake to think God doesn’t do what He says. There is another reason and it makes God seem slow to act. It’s not that. He is not willing that anyone perish.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
God waits for us to repent, He has a plan for repentance. And it is so much better than we think. There is no greater relief than know our sins-all of them- have been forgiven. So, God waits. Not in weakness-in eternal strength and God powered patience.
In the parable, the fig did not have forever. As we repent, there is permanent forgiveness. The other response we can have is to be unrepentant. At some point- on God’s time, His response to our unrepentant heart will be the same as for the fruitless fig, “Cut it down.”
God knows the condition of our hearts now. His plan and gift to us is to have Jesus die that our sinful lives could be cleaned up forever. We do not need to be fruitless or without hope. Jesus took care of that. To repent is eternally less painful than to be cut down.
It’s not about figs…it’s about our sins.
Holy Spirit of God-do your work in our hearts.
Deal with the sin in our hearts.