Fruitless Trees

Fruitless Trees

   I was examining my two peach trees this week to see if there were any peaches on them.  From my kitchen window I had not yet seen any.  For the last two years, late frosts have prevented any fruit.  I planted these trees for fruit not for decoration.

   Although we have had lots of rain and cooler weather, I don’t think we have had frost during the time of blossoming.  Nevertheless, my diligent branch by branch searching discovered only one lone peach. In frustration I decided I was ready to cut these unfruitful trees down. If I had found 20 or 30 peaches, it would be different, but 1. What good is 1 peach.

   All this vain searching for tiny growing peaches caused me to remember something from the book of Genesis. It is a conversation between Abraham and God. (By the way, these are very real persons.  We have the whole nation of Israel to authenticate Abraham, and we have a whole universe to authenticate God.)

  Anyway, God told Abraham that “the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous that I will go down and see.”  Abraham knew destruction was on its way. 

  He bravely spoke his concern to God.  “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”  What if there are 50 righteous people in that city?”  God told him if there are 50 righteous people, I will spare it.  I guess Abraham wasn’t sure there would be that many righteous persons because he continued.  “How about 40?”  God replied, “I will spare it for 40.” 

  “Ummmm, how about 30?”  “I will spare it for 30.”

“20?”  “I will spare it for 20.”

  “Ahh, Lord please don’t be angry, but how about 10?  Will you spare it for 10?”   God answered, “For the sake of 10 I will not destroy it.”

   Well, we know the rest of that bit of history. There were not 10 righteous persons to be found and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed.  It is a very sad thing when society heads in a direction away from God.

  Our God, the one and only true God, is a God of great and mighty love and is slow to anger, but He does get fed up with sin. God created us to have relationship with Him. Sin separates us from God.  No wonder He hates sin.  But, God provided a way for us to be holy and connect with Him.  That way is Jesus Christ.

    Be a tree that bears fruit. Psalms chapter 1 says: “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful: But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water; that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

   Jesus is that nourishing fountain.  Plant yourself near to Him.

    Back to my peach trees that I was ready to cut down. Those trees that seem to have quit producing fruit.  

    As I was searching among the branches for peaches, I happened upon a sweet little bird nest.  I like birds as much as peaches, maybe more.  The trees will stay.