“At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. ² He asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? ³ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. ⁴ Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. ⁷ So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ ⁸ He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’” Luke 13:1-9

Is it enough to just have remorse for sin? Is it enough to feel bad about what we have done, and plan to never do it again? Jesus says, Repent, or you will perish.  Sounds like it isn’t enough to just be remorseful, but that we must turn (for repentance means to turn around) from the ways of our sinfulness and find a different path.  Even Paul says that we should not continue to sin even if we have this thing called “salvation by Grace through faith.” But then Jesus tells the parable of the fig tree – one of the parables that I think most clearly defines Grace…where we are always given another chance to be “fertilized” by our encounters with the risen Lord – which hopefully will bring us to bear fruit – fruit being love for G-d and each other. Repent – turn from your sinful ways – again and again we have the opportunity to repent and bear fruit. Day after day, year after year, we have chance after chance after chance to bear fruit for Jesus. But, when will be the year, or the moment, or the day, or the hour that we will be cut down? We don’t know…we don’t know. So, why wait? Repent – and bear fruit.

Pastor Dave