Like a Fig Tree

Based on 1 Samuel 27-29, Luke 13:1-22

"Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth 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." Luke 13:7‭-‬9.

Kind of like this fig tree, we all want one more chance. One more chance to get it right. One more chance to talk to someone we may not have had the greatest first impression with. One more chance to prove ourselves & fix a mistake...thankfully, someone had a heart & passion for this fig tree! They said, "Give me one more year to work on it!" But they also accepted that if there's nothing that could be done to change the fig tree, then it could be cut down...but, if it bore fruit, all would be well!

The man in the garden with the fig tree had to go through a special process to give it another chance at producing fruit. The tree had to be pliable & moldable in order to be ready to bear fruit. We have to go through a similar change process in order to have a chance at a better, more productive life for The Kingdom of God and for eternity! It starts with repentance, then the washing in baptism, then receiving the Holy Ghost!

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:5.

We will be cut down like the unproductive fig tree if we don't have a moldable, pliable repentant heart! Unfortunately, king Saul was a case of a fig tree that just needed to be cut down to size & replaced by a better fig tree. He was sorrowful, but only about losing his good reputation with the people, not about losing his relationship with God...

"Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night." 1 Samuel 28:19‭-‬20.

Saul summoned a witch to bring up the spirit of Samuel...but God used this evil situation to speak this report to Saul through Samuel, who was already dead. Saul & his sons would die the next day in battle, and the kingdom would go to David!

If we want the Kingdom of God dwelling in us, we must repent truly repent, be baptized by full immersion in water (just as Jesus was fully buried), then be filled with the Holy Ghost (just as Jesus rose again from the dead)! Jesus made a way of repentance for those in the Old Testament, before He came to earth, and He made this process for us after He died & rose again! It's a simple process, but it makes us a productive fig tree in the Kingdom of God!

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Acts 2:38.

"neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Luke 17:21.