Matthew 12:33, 37
“Either assume the tree to be good as well as its fruit good, or assume the tree to be bad as well as its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
You shall know a tree by its fruit. Makes perfect sense. Because we say we are a christian doesn’t make it so. Jesus said in Matthew 7:22,23, “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; LEAVE ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’” That would be a scary and shocking day. This comment agrees with today’s passage. The end says “Leave me you who practice lawlessness”. The evidence is in their deeds.
I would say that most who think they are going to hell would attempt to change that. The church I grew up in didn’t believe in eternal security. Which is crazy, as they are the oldest church. It was nearly eight or so months after I accepted Christ that I heart of it. But even some who think they are eternally secure aren’t.
What’s going on? God allows us to be comfortable with our choices. 2 Thessalonians 2:10b,11 says “because they did not accept the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false”. That’s it. If we reject Christ, we are lost.
Most are confident in what they believe. Otherwise they wouldn’t believe it. There is a huge spectrum of beliefs. There are several levels of intensity of those people. People’s filters also have different levels. But most are confident and comfortable in what they believe. This is why when they go to the bad place it’s such a shock.
However, when God explains all, then they would agree with His fairness. They won’t be happy with it. In fact they may be raging for all eternity. Of course there will be suffering. But many have adopted rage. I see that in society and certainly online.
How is our fruit? Is it good? What matters the most to God is love and obedience. Are we doing what He says and are we loving others. That’s the fruit He is looking for.
As we go throughout our days and attempt to complete our check off list, we bump into others that are doing the same things. We get in each others way. Sometimes we are gracious and allow the other to go first. There are times when we are frustrated. These are the times when we are to be patient and loving. We aren’t perfect here. God understands.
He also wants us to obey Him. He gives us His Word, the bible. We are to obey it. There are some gray areas, but there is plenty of black and white. We are to abide by it.
If we are a believer we will sin and fall short. We know that He wants us to go to Him and ask for forgiveness. He will and does. We are the opposite of being comfortable in our goodness. We know we have fallen so far short. This is what it means to be “poor in spirit”. We know that without Christ’s sacrifice, we are goners.
The last verse says that by our words we are justified or condemned. On that last day God will rewind the tapes and play them. It will be completely just and fair. Many won’t like the outcome, but our own words will be the evidence.
If we have accepted Christ, those are the words we will hear. We won’t have a review of our stances and sins. Jesus will be before us and the Father and say that we are His and we are to enter His rest.
What is our fruit? Are we growing closer to Christ’s likeness? God help it to be so.