A Tree and its fruits

The standards that determine eternal judegment are not a person’s standards, not a church’s standard, not a preacher’s standard, but only God’s standards set forth in His Bible.

Matthew 7:15-23 ‘Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruits you will recognize them.  Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.  Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

In the course of my college education, I ran across an inscription posted at the top of the college library entrance that read, ‘Read not to believe or take for granted, nor to refute or contradict, but to weigh and consider’.  That inscription has had a huge impact on my life.  I try to embrace that attitude when I read, listen and observe.  A similar attitude shows up in the book of Thessalonians.  A directive was issued to the Christians in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians when he admonishes them to test all things to the scriptures so that you will not be led astray.

Again, Matthew 7:15 says ‘Watch out for false prophets.  They will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.’  Verse 16 says, ‘By their fruits you will recognize them.’  Scripture says that the wolves will come in sheep’s clothing.  The wolves can be ever so clever.  They will wear the sheep’s clothing of doing good deeds and intentions for the cause of something good or for the cause of Christ, but beneath it all, their true intentions or desires are to do something that will serve their own best interests.  And that is the deal killer for Jesus.  The false prophet can wear the cloak of religiosity and represent itself in the form of a person, preacher, teacher, church, missionary, evangelist, and many other ways.

Here is the rule that will test a false prophet in my judgement.  If a person or entity is acting on behalf of God and only God’s standards of righteousness and serves to glorify God, then he/she is a true prophet for the purpose of God.  If, on the other hand, he/she has any self-serving motive, like pride, prestige, power or possessions, then he/she becomes a false prophet that dilutes God’s purpose and leads many astray.  The scripture says cursed are those who lead one astray.

Matthew 7:16 says, ‘By the fruits you will recognize them’.  All fruit comes from a nourishing source like a tree, vine, etc.  Matthew 7:17-18 tells us that good fruit comes from good nourishment (like God’s truth), but bad fruit comes from deception, which is anything other than God’s truth.  Bad fruit leads to bad things. Matthew 7:19 says, ‘Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire’.  Jesus is telling us to get out into the world and bear good fruit, fruit that will truly represent His plan and purpose.  If the tree does not get out into the world and does not bear good fruit, it will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:21-23 says ‘Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?  Then I will tell them plainly, I never knew you.  Away from me, you evildoers’.  These scriptures are self-evident.  If you were a false prophet and stood before Jesus He would say, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me you evildoer’.  Jesus is the only way into heaven.  Not knowing Jesus is the only way into hell which is eternal damnation of suffering and pain.

Remember, the standards that determine eternal judgement are not a person’s standards, not a church’s standard, not a preacher’s standard, but only God’s standards set forth in His Bible. We are responsible for our own choices.

Author: David Leatherman

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