They say that opposites attract. Well, this is definitely the case with my husband and I. My husband is a DOER!! If there is something that needs to be done he wants it done ASAP. It doesn’t matter how or what the result will be, it is just a matter of getting it done. I, on the other hand am more of a procrastinator. I get it done, but in my own time. We have learned to lean into these differences and realize that neither is the perfect way, but there are advantages to both.
Today I am thankful that God gives us time and grants us another day. God has mercy and grants us another day, another hour, another breath. But, reality is that His patience will come to an end. We read about this today in Luke 13:1-17. God commands the people to repent.
I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Luke 13:3
Jesus then goes on to tell a parable about a fig tree that should be producing fruit but it is not. Luke shows us in this text the difference between one who has repented and is producing fruit and one who remains hard hearted and continues to sin.
“A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years not I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it us up the soil?’ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ “
Luke 13:6-9
The three year period is significant in this parable because for three years John the Baptist and Jesus had been preaching the message of repentance throughout all of Israel. But, the fruits of repentance were not showing.
Thankfully, the gardener in this story pleads for more time. The gardener pleads for more time to water and fertilize the fruitless tree. And the God of mercy responds with patience.
The lesson for us is that we have a limited amount of time. God has granted us this day, this hour and our next breath, but our time is not eternal here on earth. Our day will come when we have to stand in front of Jesus and account for our lives we have lived. If there is no fruit in our life, no repentance, He sill cut us down.
I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
Luke 13:3
Being a DOER as my husband is would be very practical in this matter. Why wait till tomorrow when Jesus is waiting right now for us to repent and follow Him?
Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Isaiah 55:6-7