The Axe is Laid at the Root of the Tree!
Mat. 3:10
“And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
A good farmer is always looking after his crop and he does everything he can to cause his tress to bring forth fruit. He will till the soil and fertilize it, and prune the trees. If however you should walk through his orchard and see an axe lying at the base of a tree and there is no fruit on the tree, you can safely assume, the tree has proven to be incurable and at a convenient time he will cut it down and burn it. For it is not fit that such a tree should be allowed to take up space and rob him of his precious time of caring for it. Furthermore it never has given any fruit and it becomes obvious that it never will.
The greatest and wisest farmer of all is the Lord God our wonderful Creator. He planned everything so perfectly. He created the light, the water, dry land, the seas, and the minerals. All of these have no life in them yet they are the elements that God uses to sustain life for the trees, plants, grasses, and herbs. The animals are also sustained by the same elements as the trees, plants and herbs. Last but not least he created the man from the same elements, (dust) and he is sustained by all of God’s creation, (Even the air he breathes). Read Gen.1: 28,29 Ps.115: 16
The man was to rule the earth. God made man to manifest his glorious image therefore he is made with great abilities of reasoning and rational intelligence. He is capable of a thousand times as much as the animals, man is able to look back at things from the beginning of time and even considers what was before the world was and looks forward beyond the end of time. He is capable of extending his mind beyond the utmost limits of the universe. He is capable of knowing God and have angels serve him.
One of the great qualities our heavenly Father has is to organize everything in a godly manner, this ability is greatly enhanced by his foresight. It seems he is able to see the future as clear as the present. “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” Is.42: 9 “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” Is. 46: 10,11
The main purpose our heavenly Father had in all the creation was to bring forth a body of believers that would manifest his image; this body of delightful people would be the bride of Jesus Christ the Son of God. Read Eph. Chapter one Therefore he choose those who were to be his elect from the foundations of the world. “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”Eph.1: 4 Jesus tells us; “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
Our God is looking for the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: read Gal.5: 22,23 the fruit of the Spirit is the image of the Father. He created us to bear this glorious image. Those who are truly born again of the Spirit will manifest the desired image. Think of what pleasure it gives any Father to see that his son looks like him. Our heavenly Father is not a respecter of persons and he has given everyone this opportunity to participate in the body of Christ. He planted us all in the same good soil and has given all the same opportunities of his divine grace. All mankind is occupying the land and drinking in the sunshine and the rain and consuming daily of the trees, plants, herbs, and animals. These things were not created just so we could consume them on our lust like animals. Consider how long he has been patient, waiting for repentance of sin that he might work in you this wonderful grace. How much special attention has been given to you in the proclamation of the gospel? Man is special to God and he is ready to redeem anyone who will simply trust in him. (John 3:16)
However if we choose to rebel and stiffen our necks and refuse the divine will of God we are fools. If we choose to live like animals we will die like them the only difference will be, those who refuse eternal life will suffer eternally. On the other hand if we repent and believe the gospel. He will bestow the great privilege to be chosen to bring glory and honor to our lovely creator. He will reward all who come to him with a life that is far greater than any life self-indulgence could give.
Jesus spoke this parable; “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I came seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth (burden) it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” Those who are refusing the plan of God and not surrendering their lives to their Creator are a problem to the rest of God’s creation. They are consuming daily the many wonderful resources and benefits that are given to them by God; yet they refuse to honor him by bringing forth fruits of repentance. If it were not for the prayers of Jesus who is interceding for them, and the prayers of the faithful people of God, many would have been destroyed long ago.
On one occasion Jesus was hungry and when he saw a fig tree, he looked for fruit to eat but he only found leaves. Then he cursed the tree and it died. Read Mt.21: 17-20 This is a picture of hypocrisy in those who profess to believe, they appear to be good, they are giving tithes and praising God but when you look close you see no fruit of the spirit. Even many pastors are manifesting more love for money than love for God. Love for money is the fruit of the flesh. (see 1 Tim.6: 9,10)
Some people say if God made me this way then he is responsible for what I do and the way I live. No my friend God did not create many people he only created Adam and Eve and in the beginning they were with out sin. But they soon rebelled against the command of God and now sin has entered into the human race, and all have partaken in sin. (see Ro.5) He tells us in Jeremiah 2:21 “Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?” Man has turned into a strange vine indeed. He is far from the man that God wants man to be. If he however will turn to Jesus Christ he can be grafted into the true vine again. Jesus said; “ I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15: 1-8
For many, the axe is already laid at the root of the tree, how about you? How long have you been enjoying the abundance of food, and using up all of the wonders of God’s lovely earth. Those who bear no fruit are not fit to be allowed to continue living in this world. It is not fit that this world should be the constant abode of those who bring forth no fruit unto God. It is not fit that a barren tree be allowed to stand in the orchard of God and have the goodness of God spent upon them forever.
Beloved; call upon Jesus before he picks up the axe.