Hank is a very successful politician, married 40 plus years to Rose and they have 5 sons. All 5 of their sons are successful by their own efforts. Not one of the boys followed in their father’s footsteps and to their credit, they are all very successful family men giving their parents more than a dozen grandchildren. Hank and Rose are pillars in their community and they have one heck of a Facebook following.
They are the American success story. From this physical world’s perspective, they have status, health, wealth, and a large successful and loving family. From the spiritual world perspective, they appear to be successful believers because Hank and Rose attend a Christian church. One could easily argue that Hank and Rose are fruitful from either world’s perspective.
But when you look at Hank’s political career and especially his voting record; Hank’s policies do not mirror the values of his Christian beliefs. In fact, many of his positions are contrary to what we find in the Bible. It makes one wonder, is Hank actually listening to God’s word when he attends church or is Hank attending church for the purpose to portray a favorable image for the voters. Did Hank’s political consultants study how many votes Hank would obtain by his being a “church-goer”?
We do not know Hank’s heart but Jesus provides us the wisdom of discernment in Matthew 7:15-20 (ESV) … ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.
Jesus would refer to the Pharisees as hypocrites. The Greek word for hypocrite at the time was translated as someone who pretended to be someone else. Hank has a problem. He portrays himself as a Christian man, but his voting record does not represent Christian values. We have seen this before where a past President and Speaker of the House voted contrary to position of their practiced religion. One could argue that these politicians were representing the will of their constituents.
If that is so, then how does a Christian believing politician reconcile his actions when we look to Galatians 1:10 (ESV)? For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
What about Rose’s heart? Her Facebook posts are filled with her smiling children and grandchildren at Thanksgiving meals, in front of beautifully adorned Christmas trees with presents perfectly arranged, and at primo vacation destinations around the world. Photos of a perfect family living a perfect life.
However, all of Rose’s photos are secular in nature. What about the Christmas tree photos, you ask? Millions of people celebrate the “Santa Claus” Christmas but not the Christmas of the birth of Jesus Christ. But Hank and Rose go to church, right? Sitting in church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes you a car.
Don’t be that Fig Tree
Mark 11: 12-14 … As they left Bethany the next day, he was hungry. Off in the distance he saw a fig tree in full leaf. He came up to it expecting to find something for breakfast, but found nothing but fig leaves. (It wasn’t yet the season for figs.) He addressed the tree: “No one is going to eat fruit from you again—ever!” And his disciples overheard him.
Why would Jesus curse a tree that did not have fruit?
It was morning and Jesus had not eaten breakfast so he approaches a fully leafed fig tree expecting figs to snack on. But He found no figs and wow, Jesus cursed it! The loving and compassionate Jesus, doomed that tree. In fact, when the apostles passed by the tree the next day, it had already turned brown and withered. I didn’t understand this scripture until Pastor David Guzik of Calvary Chapel in Santa Barbara CA explained it in one of his sermons. Essentially, the tree was a picture of false advertising, having leaves but no figs. Ordinarily this is not the case with fig trees, which normally do not have leaves without also having figs. It wasn’t that the fig tree didn’t have figs because it wasn’t supposed to. The problem is that it had leaves but didn’t have figs. The leaves said, “There are figs here,” but the figs weren’t there. There were many trees with only leaves, and these were not cursed. There were many trees with neither leaves nor fruit, and these were not cursed. This tree was cursed because it professed to have fruit, but did not.
Are Hank and Rose the human versions of a Fig Tree without fruit? From a distance, they look very fruitful. They definitely demonstrate the fruits of this “physical” world of success and achievements. However, Hank’s voting record and their FB posts don’t present the fruits of a spiritual life.
John 15: 1-7 (ESV)…
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you…
How many people do you know like Hank and Rose? I have come across many in my life and I have to admit, I used to be envious of them. I desperately wanted to be like Hank and Rose and have all the bells and whistles this world has to offer. For years, I worked very hard trying to achieve a life similar to that of Hank and Rose.
But God was gracious enough to grant me a spiritual awakening before I grabbed that brass ring. Protestants call it “being born again.” In lieu of wanting to be like Hank and Rose, now I find myself praying for them. Because once you turn towards God and become filled with His light, you want that for everyone.
Turn towards God, and be filled with His Light,
and let that light be fruitful!
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