“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. ” – Luke 6:43-45
Can you imagine the Garden of Eden in all of its glory, fruit hanging bountifully from tree limbs with sweetness wafting in the air? I hardly can! I know God took 6 days to create this Earth and I know God loves to lavish His loved ones with good things. When I close my eyes, I imagine Eden to be more than perfection; I imagine Eden to be a place of peace, love and continual growth.
I believe, this is what God still intends for all us: to live in peace, love and continual growth.
The only way to grow is to live through the process. In Eden, the Earth followed the command God gave to reproduce “after its kind”. Likewise we are experiencing a harvest process. We learned about obeying God’s plans when He breaks ground in our hearts and lives. We learned about being faithful as we sow seeds and water them with prayer and faith in Jesus. All of these acts, when culminated, produce a harvest.
John chapter 6 reveals two sides of life. Good fruit vs bad fruit. In either instance, there is a harvest which bears fruit after the kind of fruit seed that was planted. What kind of seeds are you planting in this season of your life? Have you been bearing good fruit or bad fruit?
Bad fruit is the fruit no one wants to eat. When I go apple picking, I’m often disgusted by the bug infested fruit littered beside the tree trunks. I’m disgusted because the apples are so spoiled and look unappetizing. Bad spiritual fruit looks even worse to God. He is not excited to see us bear fruit of gossiping, back biting, unforgiveness, anger, lack of love and lies. Those are not fruits of seeds that God would have us sow. God is looking for us to bear fruit that looks like the perfect fruit He planted in His Son: love, honesty, truth, compassion, friendship, sanctification and peace.
Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verses 1 says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens“. There is a season for you! There is a season for you to bear fruit! My prayer is that you will be obedient to God’s will in your life so that you can see the fruit He has planned to nourish you and others with. There is nothing more beautiful than leaning on the everlasting strength and power of God, enduring difficulties, and waiting on the Lord because at the right time God will reveal His fruit in and around you. The world will see just how beautiful the harvest of a believer is!
Eden is inside of you when God’s Spirit is inside of you. Harvest your fruit and remember to share with others. “Be fruitful and multiply“!
#tobepraised