“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

“From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.⁴⁹ “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ⁵⁰ I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! ⁵¹ Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! ⁵² From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; ⁵³ they will be divided:

father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

⁵⁴ He also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain’; and so it happens. ⁵⁵ And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat’; and it happens. ⁵⁶ You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time? ⁵⁷ “And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? ⁵⁸ Thus, when you go with your accuser before a magistrate, on the way make an effort to settle the case,^[i] or you may be dragged before the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer throw you in prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.” Luke 12:48-59

Attentiveness and watchfulness are necessary – yet they can be dangerous when applied to our faith. Why do I say that? Well, for example, if we are watching carefully, and we see trouble coming toward us, we can suddenly shift our focus completely on to the earthly trouble, and therefore take our focus away from Christ, and thus lose our trust in Christ. Trouble always wants us to think that we have to put all “Our” efforts on fixing it. And when we think we have to handle everything, then where is there a need for Christ? In that same vein, if we are so focused on being watchful, and ignore the injustices and atrocities that occur around us, we are no better than the drowning man who waves the rescue boat away claiming that G-d will save him. 

Now, I know this sounds counter-intuitive – but that is because our society is always telling us that we have to be our own person – and handle our own affairs. We need to be able to interpret both the here and now, and the times that are to come – and, both require a faith where we put our trust in Christ ahead of our own efforts. Now, we are still called to work for justice and peace – and we are also to prepare for that hour when Christ will come. It will take the help of the Holy Spirit for us to be able to prepare as Christ compels us to prepare.

Pastor Dave