What kind of tree you gonna be?

Mark 11:12-26 deals with an important lesson of the power of God when applied in faith. But is that all we find here? Certainly the lesson of what Jesus accomplishes is essential, but what of the tree itself? Is there a lesson to learn in the fate of the unfruitful tree. Luke 8:18 seems to indicate so. Revelation 3:16 says something similar. (please feel free to read any and all of these as we go along) If we are neither hot or cold for God, He will reject us. He wants nothing to do with those whose faith and resulting actions are luke warm.

When we embrace the lifestyle of the thorny ground, we run the risk of allowing our tepid response to God end up costing us. What exactly it will cost us is perhaps in question, but it would not be unreasonable to consider any possible punishment.

It seems clear when Jesus curses the unfruitful tree, He is making a point. He answers the disciples question about HOW the withering of the tree is possible, but I wonder if maybe they weren't asking the wrong question. Isn't the important thing here WHY Jesus did what He did?

Jesus is not prone to meaningless fits of temper. When He takes an action, even when angry, He does it with a specific purpose. Anger, when held in God's control is not wrong or misdirected. This is a display with meaning. This tree Jesus cursed failed to fulfill it's purpose. It was therefore useless and not worth keeping. When Jesus cursed it, He was rendering judgment against it. If we, as Christians, are also not fruitful, do we not run the risk of being judged, and fairly so, as useless by God? I don't know what form that judgment might take, but I am not eager to find out. If the spiritual ennui of the church can indeed be likened to the failed fig tree, how can we expect to continue to scoff God's commandments and NOT be judged eventually?

This is not generally the direction in which I want to focus my attention, but it is an unavoidable avenue of consideration when looking at the parable of the sower and connecting it to Jesus' actions with the unfruitful tree, especially in light of Revelation 3:16. Don't we need to consider the two-edged sword of being God's servant? Jonah knew how much obedience God expected from His people. While we are told to obey God out of our love for Him, we must also consider the alternative. God expects us to be diligently working on His behalf, and it is reasonable to assume He is willing to force our hand if we choose not to comply willingly.

It is the same concept we are forced to embrace when sharing the message of Jesus with unbelievers. While we wish to convey the depth of Jesus' love and compassion for us, it is the threat of Hell from which He saves us. There is a real, true, final judgment that comes, and it is for that reason we are urgently called to make disciples of all. There is only one answer to an eternity without God. Jesus saves.

This brings us back to our consideration of our obedient service to God. If we, who are blessed to know Him and enjoy the riches of His grace are not willing to share that bounty with the desperate and dying around us, we are craven cowards who have allowed the thorny soil of our hearts to choke off the true message of Jesus to the point where we cannot really call ourselves His servants.

Concerns for our own comfort, pleasure and interests have forced Jesus out of the throne of our hearts, and we have laid claim to the place that was rightfully given over to Him when we offered Him rulership of our lives in exchange for blessed salvation. Is there any way we can be surrendered to Jesus, without being willing to take up His calling and carry forth His message to a lost and broken world?

Jesus' parting shot; His final words while on Earth was to GO forth and spread the message of the Gospel. (see Mark 16:15-18) Clearly it was a priority. The only thing that makes the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary work, is if the believers, His servants, GO and proclaim the truth. The grace of Jesus cannot be extended to a person who is not given an opportunity to know Him.