“And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs” (Mark 11:23). 

Jesus expected figs out of season as He approached a tree bearing leaves. For those close to Him, time is no longer the measure for seasons of change. His presence is sufficient to cause flowers to blossom and fruit to be borne. Seasons are a means of measuring natural things. The almanac records planetary alignments and climate changes. The time for planting is different from the time of reaping. Therefore, what grows must mature before it is ripe for harvest. Yet Jesus expected fruit to be produced before harvest time. Since nothing but leaves were there He cursed it so that nothing would ever grow in it again. The lesson was for His followers. There is a moment in time allotted to us by God that must be seized. If not, the heart is hardened and the mind is fixed to remain as it was. He says to us, seize the moment while the Word and the Spirit combine to bring in a new day. God awaits the opportunity to show Himself strong on our behalf. The fruit of our lives is there to serve the world and in particular, this present age. If we do not bear fruit we will be condemned to never bear any. We are to bear much fruit and our fruit is to remain. 

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). 

The trials of the Apostle Paul were sent to destroy him on the part of the enemy, but allowed to prove him on the part of God. Faith is not a mere idea of the mind, but a disposition of the heart. It is able to withstand the onslaught of challenges that would otherwise wear one down. When we are tried and pass the test, on the other side of that victory is a special grace useful in the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can then all the more identify with the price He paid by enduring much more than we could ever face in this life. There is a message preached by some who are void of experience that may stir the emotions and impress its hearers. But there is another message deeply rooted in experiences aligned with the sufferings of Christ. That message is able to make a deep impact upon its hearers because they not only hear it but see it. We live our message much louder than we speak it. There were things Paul wanted them to know. He wanted them to know that things that happen are not isolated incidences. Everything serves a purpose in the overall plan of God. He uses it all as a means of building within us a message that can reach and transform the hearts of others if we are totally committed to His purpose. 

“The ordinary and disreputable people who heard John, by being baptized by him into the kingdom, are the clearest evidence” (Luke 7:29 MSG). 

When ordinary and common people are awakened to the message, the clearest evidence is presented. It is not the theologians or religious experts who will readily embrace the truth. They have to work their way through too many intellectual arguments before their hearts are finally penetrated. We should not close our minds and blindly feel our way into faith. But there is a place deep within the soul that can identify with the Truth and serve as a cause for rejoicing. The void is filled there. What has been missing is finally placed in the deep hole that nothing else was able to fill. Ordinary people are more aware of their need than those who are self- confident, pious, and proud. They need everything while the proud need nothing. They seek out a better and more fulfilling life while most aristocrats only need an addendum to what they have already received. There will be a major movement among the ordinary people and those who were hopeless. They will see the Light sought after but never realized. Their response will be genuine because they have nowhere else to turn. Yes, Christ is for losers. Unless we lose our lives, we will never find eternal life. Otherwise we will be embracing a false security plunging rather than rising thinking we have arrived. 

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). 

The fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins. It is the acknowledgement of God’s existence and His divine power. Even though He is invisible, the evidence remains that God is Almighty. Many have lost their fear of the Lord and either disrespected and ignored Him altogether or reduced Him to a level that makes Him common. As important as it is, the fear of the Lord does not constitute salvation. Even the devil believes that there is a God and trembles. The second must accompany the first. We must keep His commandments. An attempt to keep His commandments solely on the basis of fear will lead to a Pharisaic and legalistic form of obedience. It is the motivation of love that provides consistency in our obedience to Him. If we love Him our will is to obey Him. The Royal Law of love provides a constant flow from our hearts to the object of our faith. Then it is distributed towards the assignments given to us. We must see the objective from beginning to end. Then our path will remain straight because our intentions will remain pure. 

“Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life?” (2 Peter 3:11 MSG). 

How quickly things can change from what we have grown accustomed to into something with which we are totally unfamiliar. The transitions occur as a judgment against every standard that opposes what ought to be established. The infusion of sin and the reinforcement given to it by an ever expanding majority opinion hastens the Day of the Lord. When right appears wrong and wrong appears right, God alone must vindicate His honor. He brings to naught systems and all under the authority of the rebellious and reestablishes in their place newness. Do not be alarmed at the destruction of the wicked. These things must be if ever the Lord is to be glorified. Opposing and competing forces cannot coexist. The strength of the strong will overtake the weak, and the wisdom of the wise will befuddle the foolishness of the foolish. Since it will happen immediately, we should apply our hearts to live a holy life. The signs are before us now. The rapidly changing situation is our alarm as to how uncertain all things are. God alone is the constant that we can depend upon

“When the proper time has come [for executing My judgments], I will judge uprightly [says the Lord]” (Psalm 75:2 AMP). 

Things are allowed to run their course until God steps in and establishes His proper order. The free range field in which the heart is permitted to run allows each the chance to choose whichever course is suitable to him. We explore the mountainous heights of dreams and aspirations of grandeur and become kings of our own castles. We visit make-believe worlds of fantasy as children playing roles of both villain and saint. Then the time comes to grow up. We are expected to shoulder the responsibility expected of sons of the Most High. But for some, life remains a fantasyland and the exploration of self-interest has so enraptured the heart as to prevent it from receiving the stabilizing truth which will take us even beyond the limits of our own imaginations. God judges the heart in the proper time. He alone distinguishes the difference between what is twisted and what is straight. He reveals His standard to the wayward and pronounces death to all who do not measure up to it. Everything that brings Him glory is for our good. We are being prepared for our future state of ruling and reigning with Him. He takes away the distracting influences that deflect our attention away from what He knows is righteous and good and establishes in its place true holiness. 

“Since the One who saves and those who are saved have a common origin, Jesus doesn’t hesitate to treat them as family” (Hebrews 2:11 MSG). 

We are members of the family of God and the household of faith. Regardless as to when we entered in or whether the member is born or adopted into the family, there is a place reserved for each one. Jesus saved us from the wrath of God. We were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. Not only were we estranged from the covenant of promise, we had no desire to be otherwise. Jesus saved us from a path even before we possessed the sense or the strength to seek any other path. We sought any option other than the path that led to life. It was the common origin of sin that blinded us to the love of God expressed through His Son. Little wonder why we made the choices that we made then. Our actions were expressions of our family of origin. But God rescued us by adopting us into His family. Now our reorientation has adapted us to the character of the One from which we were reborn. It is our passion to proudly reflect the same qualities from which we came. Since we are now treated as family, we wish to display the attributes of the new and not the old. We are now akin to Him and He treats us that way. What a privilege

“This perverse way oflife will be like a towering, badly built wall that slowly, slowly tilts and shifts” (Isaiah 30:13 MSG). 

It is not the beauty nor the height of the towering structure erected. What matters most is that it is built according to the specifications required for endurance. The life that endures is the life rooted and grounded in the Word of God. Its architecture may not be as impressive as the hastily constructed and massive structures with greater eye appeal. These are lives built upon lies that eventually erode their foundations. Its character will eventually betray its impressive beauty and slowly but surely, the light of truth will expose the perversity of its ways. Christ had no beauty that we should desire Him. Only those whose hearts gravitated in the direction of the Father with true love were able to recognize Him. The same is true in our day. Most would be impressed but deceived by eye appeal and blind to the things that really matter. But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear, and your hearts for it understands the value of the only message that can permanently and eternally change the course of one’s life. Pray that your eyes remain focused and not distracted by the scenery all around. None notice the cracks in the walls shifting silently with time. Only when we consider the end of a thing are we enlightened to understand that all that glitters is not gold. But gold is tested with fire. It endures when all else fails.

“From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:20). 

The pursuit of wisdom occurs in many places. It is sought in the majestic halls of education. It is pursued among the politicians who ponder over laws which prove over time to be no more than an experiment in balancing the scales of justice. Wisdom appears to be such a fleeting and ethereal thing that many are left on their own in their attempts to define it. Their eloquence and artistic usage of words is often the disguise used to camouflage what is lacking when true wisdom is lacking. The psychobabble of self- impressed individuals with self-interests often become standard among the misguided sheep who find themselves following after leaders who themselves lack direction. There is a place where wisdom can be found. It is found in the reverential fear of the Lord. It is when individuals no longer allow themselves to be governed by the whims of men, but consider the Lord before any decision is made. It is imparted to surrendered and humble hearts. Those who remain teachable are assured they will not stray far from the path of righteousness. Then the Holy Spirit will reveal what otherwise would remain unknown. What God is doing will become sensible because understanding provides peace to the soul.

“Dear friends, I’ve dropped everything to write you about this life of salvation that we have in common. I have to write insisting — begging! — that you fight with everything you have in you for this faith entrusted to us as a gift to guard and cherish” (Jude 3). 

It is worth everything to guard and protect what has been entrusted to our stewardship. Out of all the subjects of interest and arguments to defend, our common faith must remain paramount. Jesus prayed that we may become one as He and the Father are one. The unity that He has ordained is the unity of the Spirit in the bonds of peace. This is only possible when we are able to see Him as He is. Oh how urgent this pursuit must be in these days of compromise and declension! We cannot afford to join the company of unbelievers who have failed by allowing distractions to capture their hearts and minds. There is a need for true conversions. Not merely a step in a supposedly positive direction but rather, transformation of the heart and soul. This is why Jesus died on the cross. Not for us to feel good about ourselves but to love Him with our whole hearts. As Jesus was raised from the dead, pray that this message might be restored among the deceived who have embraced the subtle lie of the enemy. There is only One Lord, One Faith, and One Baptism. Revival is being restored from the many to the One.