Storyteller - Day 9

Welcome to Day 9 of my current series, blogging through "Storyteller", the latest free, online Bible study from Sarah Koontz at livingbydesign.org.

Today's reading is found in Luke 13: 1 - 9, the parable of the barren fig tree ...

At that time, some people came and reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And He responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all Galileans because they suffered these things? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well! Or those 18 that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed — do you think they were more sinful than all the people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!” And He told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He came looking for fruit on it and found none. He told the vineyard worker, ‘Listen, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it even waste the soil?’ “But he replied to him, ‘Sir, leave it this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. Perhaps it will bear fruit next year, but if not, you can cut it down.’”

There's an old Gospel song that opens with the line: "Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling ..."

But not here!! Not today. This time He's calling loudly and directly!

He starts this passage speaking about two recent tragedies which have struck the local community, current news events which were trending on 1st century Twitter. In both events, people's lives had been snuffed out in an instant, and for no apparent reason. These are the kinds of events that lead us to realise how fragile our existence is.

Jesus clearly implies that the victims did nothing wrong, nothing that caused their demise, and that we mustn't equate tragedy with divine punishment. Sin doesn't make atrocities come - they just come.

Rather, what Jesus wants to talk about is repentance. When Jesus says, twice, “unless you repent you will all perish” like the others did, He isn't talking about physical death, but eternal death - the destruction of one’s soul. And He emphasizes the suddenness with which this death comes. Just as Pilate’s and the tower’s victims didn't have the option to choose time of their death, in the same way the unrepentant will suddenly find they have delayed too long and lost themselves. Continuing on this theme, Jesus’ short parable about a fig tree speaks of imminent judgment. Like His earlier words regarding the recent tragedies, the parable warns against false reassurance. Just because you have not been cut down, do not presume that you are bearing fruit.

Now this could sound harsh and depressing, until we understand the tone of the parable: Jesus emphasizes that patience and mercy have been temporarily working in the tree's favour, keeping judgment at bay. The tree hasn't been left to its own devices - not at all! The gardener has done everything possible to get it to act as it should.

In just the same way, God doesn't leave people to their own resources but actively encourages their repentance. He is merciful and willing to forgive, as we read in 1 Timothy 2: 3 - 4: "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." He is patient but His patience will run out. It’s better to repent and turn from the sins that are preventing us from living fully for Christ before His patience and our time runs out.

The Jewish people had misconstrued God’s patience; they saw His delay in judgment as a failure to judge. 2 Peter 3: 9 (HCSB) says, “The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”

Sarah Koontz offers encouragement to us from this parable: "If God delays, it is for our benefit, in order that we may repent of our sins and accept Jesus Christ as our Savior."

I encourage you today: If there are areas of your life where you are struggling with sin, and you're aware that the way you're living is hurting your faith and your testimony, or if you've never acknowledged Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, turn to Him in true repentance, ask for His forgiveness, and allow Him to restore you to rightstanding with Father God.

May today be the day of your salvation!