Fruit Inspectors

In today's world, it seems that it's getting harder and harder to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Often, we find ourselves having to choose between the lesser of two evils.

What are we to do, then? Sometimes we sit and shake our heads, and we bemoan the current state of affairs that we find ourselves in. 

Jesus told us not to judge others. Some commentators that I have read interpret that to mean that we shouldn't pass sentence on others or condemn them out of self-righteousness. Jesus himself provided the answer: 

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.  You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.  A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20 ESV) 

It is by a person's actions, and the outcomes of those actions, that we may know whether a person's motives are good or evil. We are not required to suspend all critical thinking or discernment.  We can choose whether to associate with a person socially, do business with them, enter into marriage with them, or to defend against them. (2Corinthians 6:14)  However, it is for the Lord to decide whether people have served God or the Devil. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV) 

How can we usurp the prerogative of Christ by judging others to the point of condemnation?  We must not.  Some people may appear to escape justice now, but we must trust in God’s justice.  We must remember that we all have fallen short of God’s righteous standard.  Those who are saved escape God’s just punishment for our sins because Jesus paid “a debt He did not owe by paying a price we could not pay,” and our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 20:11-15) That is why with hearts filled with love for Him, in the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we do the things He has planned in advance for us to do. 

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.  You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.  All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)  For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.  So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. 

God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.  Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.  For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:1-10 NLT)

 

 

 

Acknowledgement:  The Bible verses shown were copied from https://biblehub.com/