Are You Friends With Jesus?

[Michael The Disciple]

Quote from Mich

Re: Mich Has Nothing to Say...

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So I was wondering whether or not to share this, when I remember this old thread, and thought it would be a perfect place.

Last night as I got home from work, I was contemplating the two plum trees that we have in front of our house. They are about 10 years old, and prior to last fall we have never trimmed or pruned them. As a result they had grown completely out of control. One had big long branches that covered up part of the driveway, and they both contained way too many branches, to the point where sometimes they would break under the weight of the fruit, and eventually it became impossible to even access most of the fruit because it was so hidden inside, and would end up rotting on the branches, and attracting all the ants, wasps, bees and flies in the neighborhood.

So last fall, tired of dealing with that every spring, I went to town on both of the trees. When I was done, they were not pretty to look at. Because I had to remove all the branches that were rubbing against each other or intertwined, or growing over the driveway, the trees were left with only the thickest and oldest limbs.

All Winter I would look at my sad little trees and shake my head. They looked so pathetic and naked. And many times I wondered what my neighbors thought of my hacked up stubby branches. But eventually spring came, at first there were just a few leaves here and there, but eventually after lots of rain and sunshine, the trees were soon covered with a big beautiful canopy of green.

So pretty were they, that it took me several months before I noticed, that not one plum existed on either tree. For a minute, I questioned myself. After all, the trees HAD produced fruit in the past, maybe I should not have trimmed them so drastically. I sat there a few minutes, just kind of staring off into space, contemplating, and eventually reminding myself that though the trees had produced fruit, it was impossible to access and so usually rotted, that it attracted the worst kind of outdoor pests, and if we had continued to let them grow as they were, eventually the problems would have been impossible to correct and the trees would have had to be entirely removed.

And then I had that momentary epiphany where for a moment you see something so clearly, that all you can do is gasp and let it sink in to you psyche. At that moment, I saw myself as one of those trees, who had been planted well, but grew crooked and out of control and in too many directions. And though I produced fruit, it was often hidden and inaccessible, and often fell to the ground unharvested. And I got to a place, where the only option left was to cut off everything that was hindering me, or that had grown crookedly, leaving only a few solid stubby branches.

My winter, where nothing grew, and I was just a chopped off tree in limbo, lasted years before the spring came and once again I became a healthy flourishing tree. And maybe I'm not fruitful right now, but I have hope that when the fruit returns in the next season of my life, it will be so much better than it was before.

I hope it turns out that way. Yet a major problem with todays thinking in religious circles is that believers actually have the idea its all up to them!You have stated that right now you are "unfruitful" but hope that at a later season you will flourish.

Jesus does not just leave it up to us to presume that way.

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away : and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing . 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered ; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned . John 15:1-6

Jesus says if we ARE bearing fruit he will prune us so we can bear more. But if we are unfruitful he takes us away.

See what I mean? We should not assume WE are in control of the salvation process.

I do not say this to offend you at all. My agenda is that every one know the truth. The way you are seeing it is like most modern believers do. We will get around to fruit bearing later. Gods love has been presented as "unconditional" so he can get in the back seat and be patient and wait for us till we are ready.

This teaching has done great damage to souls.

Note how in this parable it is not up to the person but rather to Jesus if a man/woman gets more time to grow and how much.

6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon , and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold , these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down ; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down . Luke 13:6-9

The scary part is this tree/person was given one more year. But the person did not know that. They may have thought that when it was more convienant for them then they would take up the cross, deny self, and follow him.

But no. We are not sovereign over our relationship with him. HE IS. If he says its over if they aren't bearing fruit this year it will be over. See what Im saying?

Now is the day of salvation!