Matthew 7:15-20 (NLT)
Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
John (the Pastor, not the Baptist) uses an illustration to bring these passages to life. It goes something like this:
You’re a tree. You’re planted firmly in the ground. You have beautiful apples hanging from your branches. Along comes a passerby that can’t help themselves. They pull an apple from one of your branches and bite into it. Amazed at how perfectly juicy and flavorful the apple is, the person looks at you and says, “This is absolutely the best apple I have ever eaten. It is amazing.”
Instead of basking in the compliment, you become indignant. “That’s not an apple. That’s an orange. You see, I’m an orange tree.”
“No,” the passerby replies,” I’m eating an apple right now. A juicy red apple. There is no doubt in my mind that you’re an apple tree.”
You become frustrated. “No! It’s an orange! I am an orange tree! I repeat: I am an orange tree!”
Confused and a little bit concerned, this admirer of your fruit decides it would be best to just keep walking down the road. As they pick up their pace, one thought is running through their mind:
Either that tree is lying. Or it’s insane.
This story illustrates perfectly our relationship with those around us and how, whether we realize it or accept it, we are identified by the fruit our lives bear. When we say that we are followers of Jesus Christ and live our lives accordingly, the fruit we bear will show that. In the same way, when we claim the name of Christ and call ourselves Christians yet live our lives according to our own selfish desires, we will bear a different type of fruit. A type of fruit that will leave people in your wake pondering what the passerby in the story above pondered.
Either that person is lying. Or they’re insane.
May we live out our faith in authentic ways and produce fruit that will point those around us to Christ.
