The Apple Tree

Three kinds of apple trees: a dead tree, which bears no fruit; a bad tree, which bears bad fruit; and a good tree, which bears good fruit. A dead tree is just that. Dead. It is chopped down and thrown into the fire. A bad tree is a tree that only bears bad fruit. It cannot bear good fruit. A good tree is the opposite. It only bears good fruit. So an apple tree is determined by it's fruit.

What kind of apple tree are you? A dead tree is one who claims to be a Christian but their faith doesn't spur them to action. They are the ones who stay in their "Christian bubble" hanging out with their "Christian" friends but never reach out to those who are lost. This might be because they are afraid. They have some fear that is holding them back. Or perhaps they are comfortable. They are comfortable with where they are in life and just don't want to change. Or perhaps they are too busy. To busy and wrapped in everything that they are doing and just don't have time. Or whatever it may be. But if that is you, if that is me, then we are dead. We are dead trees and we are not bearing any fruit. And we are certainly in trouble. If we remain in this state, on judgment day, we will be cut down and cast into the fire. John 15:5-6 "I am the vine; you are the branches... If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." 

What kind of apple tree are you? A bad tree is one who claims to be a Christian and does "good" deeds, but these deeds are not done out of faith. These deeds are done out of  impure motives. These deeds are done by those who want to be noticed by others. Those who want to receive praise from others for what they have done. These deeds are done by those who want to feel good about themselves. Those who want to consider themselves to be a good person because of the things they are doing. These deeds are done by those who feel it it something they have to do. Those who feel it is a list of do's and don'ts and have to do it because it's in the bible or so and so told them to do it. Whatever the case may be. But we are missing the point. We cannot please God without faith. God knows our hearts and motives. We cannot fool him. If this is you, if this is me, then we are also in trouble. For even the bad trees are cast into the fire on the day of judgment. Matthew 7:19 "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

What kind of apple tree are you? A good tree is one who is truly a Christian. One who truly understands that they can do nothing good on their own. One who truly understands that their own righteous acts are like filthy rags before God and cannot please him. One who truly understands that it is all about surrendering their life to Christ and allowing him to work through them. Those who know what it means to live life to the full. Those who truly know Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. Those who know the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. These are the good trees that bear good fruit. These are the good and faithful servants. These are the ones who will inherit eternal life. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Matthew 16:24-25 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it." Acts 20:24 "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."  

Thee kinds of apple trees. What kind are you?