30
Bearing Fruit of Repentance
John DangananNo, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. - Luke 13:3-5
Sin is sin. No matter how we slice it or dice it sin is sin before God. Whether it’s the garden variety sin of lying, not loving God, or coveting; or to “sins leading to death” like murder or theft—the solution is the same. Repentance, the act of grieving over sin, turning away from sin and running to God is the panacea to all the ills of sin. Jesus makes it explicitly clear that unless we repent we will perish. It’s interesting to note that immediately after this teaching in repentance, Luke juxtaposed this parable of a barren fig tree needing to be cut after three years of fruitlessness. It typically takes about two years for a fig tree to bear fruit. The gardener said to dig around the tree, fertilize it and if still doesn’t bear fruit after another year to chop it down. John the Baptist in Luke 3 says that we are to bear fruit in repentance.
Is there the fruit of repentance in my life? Or do I simply ask for forgiveness and repeat the same habitual sin in my life? God is so patient and long-suffering in his love for me. Psalm 103:10 says, "he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” I want to repent and live in the freedom, joy and abundant life in Christ Jesus.
