LESSONS FROM THE TREE OF DISAPPOINTMENT
Luke 13:6-9
You had tried your best but it seems not enough. You are still a failure. Everyone is disappointed even yourself. If you feel giving up after many times of trying, you can learn the lessons from the tree of disappointment.
READING
Luk 13:6 Then Jesus used this illustration: "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed.
Luk 13:7 Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's taking up space we can use for something else.'
Luk 13:8 "The gardener answered, 'Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.
Luk 13:9 If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.'"
THREE CHARACTERS IN THE STORY
I –THE UPSET OWNER - PICTURE OF DIVINE DISAPPOINTMENT
Luk 13:6 Then Jesus used this illustration: "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed
God, no doubt is the owner of our lives. God created us for specific purpose. And he is disappointed every time that we are not serving our purpose.
If God created us like a machine or a computer, we will surely follow his command without any options. But this will not give satisfaction to him if we will obey him because we are programmed to obey.
So God decided to create us with free will. This gave us right and the capacity to decide whether to obey or to disobey him. If we obey then we will give joy to the heart of God. But if we disobey, we will give him disappointment.
Romans 3:10-12 describe the reasons of this divine disappointment:
10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. 12 All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”
The upset owner here also represents the law and justice. By the virtue of Justice and the law, we are God’s property and we are required to produce for Him.
But again and again, we disappoint God by our failure to obey the law. These prove that our own effort to fulfill the letter of the law cannot by any means please God. It is because human effort is not enough
Romans 3:20
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Gal. 2:16
know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified
Gal 3:11
Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because "the righteous will live by faith."
II –THE UNPRODUCTIVE TREE - PORTRAIT OF DIVINE JUDGMENT
Luk 13:7 Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It's taking up space we can use for something else.'
We are the unproductive tree. We were already condemned by the virtue of the sin we inherited and the sin we committed. The judgment has already been pronounced. Cut it down! The wages of sin is death!
We are undone! We are convicted sinners! We are failure! We were doomed and sentenced to die in hell!
But here is the good news!
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8)
21God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(2Corinthians 5:21)
The Grace of God suddenly entered in our looming destruction. God’s mercy came in human form through the only begotten Son of God!
III –THE UNDERSTANDING GARDENER - PICTURE OF DIVINE GRACE
Luk 13:8 "The gardener answered, 'Give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer.
Jesus Christ is the answer to our impending judgment. Suddenly, the director of the play, the writer of the history of mankind entered into his own saga as one of us. He did not change the rule, nor he overrules his own infallible judgment. But in his wisdom, he satisfied the call of justice by offering himself as the redeeming sacrifice!
The Law of Justice demands cut it down! But God’s Mercy humbly object; give it one more chance! Leave it another year!
Then, he gave himself as the special fertilizer! He bravely and willing face the suffering and death of mortal man so that we can give us new life, new strength, new hope and new identity.
Yes! Because of Jesus something happened to us.
From being looser, we became victorious!
From being convicted we became justified!
From being condemned, we became saved!
From being weak, we became strong!
From being rejected we became accepted!
From being unproductive, we became useful!
THE LESSONS FROM THE TREE OF DISAPPOINTMENT
THE LESSON 1
Leaves alone are not enough. You’ve got to produce fruits. You have been planted to multiply.
THE LESSON 2
If you are trying to produce an apple when in fact you are a fig tree then you will always be disappointed.
THE LESSON 3
If you will function on the same purpose where in God has created you, then you will be successful
THE LESSON 4
The trees were planted on the same soil. Others are bearing fruits and others are not. We cannot use our environment as an excuse for not becoming productive.
THE LESSON 5
A tree without fruits is just consuming the space. If you are not producing then you are only consuming. God hate unproductivity
THE LESSON 6
The quantity of the trees doesn't matter but its quality and productivity. He is willing to cut down others who are not functioning
THE LESSON 7
When Justice say; Cut it down! Mercy say: Give it one more chance! Leave it another year!
THE LESSON 8
When the Law said; You have to die because of sin. Love said; You will live because of grace.
THE LESSON 9
The dirt and dung throwing, the bad treatment of others, the injustice, the problems, the shakings and all kinds of bad situations will serves as cultivation and fertilization in our lives to make us fruitful.
Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
Psa 1:3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
If you have been blessed, encouraged or inspired by this sermon then it’s your turn to be an encouragement too. You can do it by sending email to this author at spy2rb@yahoo.com or post comment on the discussion box below.
