I was walking the family dog with my family at a local park about a week ago when I came across the above pictured tree. Maybe it was the time of day or perhaps it was the frame of mind I was in, but I found this tree to be beautiful. It was late in the afternoon, and the light from the sun cast a half shadow upon the thousands of leaves on the trees limbs. It was a perfect day, about 80 something degrees and the clouds were but a wisp in the sky. I could smell the freshly cut grass and I absorbed the laughter of children as they played on the playground. It was almost surreal.

As I looked at the tree, I started to think about a bible verse, Mathew 7:17 that says: “Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” I noticed that the tree had neither good fruit growing on it, or bad fruit. In many ways it seemed that the tree had become stagnant. It was then that I thought about my walk with the Lord and the fruit that I bear.

The way I see it, we’re all trees. We all grow in different ways, some bearing good fruit, others bearing bad. But sometimes a tree can be beautiful and not bear any fruit at all. Is that how I am? Is that how you are? Are you beautiful on the outside but behind the bark, you’re infested with disease? Speaking for myself, I feel that way sometimes, like I’m not bearing fruit. I look at my own life tree and I see bad fruit and limbs that dip low to the ground. My bark is tough on the outside, but inside, I feel infested by the termites of sin that plague us all. There’s only one thing you can do at that point, and that is to call in the Orkin man also known as Jesus.

If we are good trees (meaning strong roots and broad branches) we bear fruit that exemplifies our lives. People will be able to see what you have done in the name and power of God because the results speak for themselves. Likewise, if one is bearing bad fruit, that too can be seen by others. When people see bad fruit they attribute that to the God we as believers, serve. Be careful in how you present the kingdom because others are always watching, always evaluating–anything to discredit God. Typing this I feel horrible because although I know this to be true, I still sin in my daily life. I need God’s strength, wisdom and courage to make it day to day and it’s nothing short of daunting sometimes. I desire to bear good fruit but my past evils and current transgressions haunt me.

I stood still, thinking of all this while staring at the tree. I wondered if my fruit was good or bad. Was I being a bad heir to the kingdom? It was then that the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said that the fruit I bear can only be judged by God. Don’t let your past creep into your future and don’t let your future be corrupted by your past. If I honestly feel that I have born ill fruit, change it, and bear good fruit. As long as we are breathing, our lives are not set in stone. If I had low hanging branches and rotten fruit before, there is nothing that can stop the Holy Spirit from changing that–I just have to be willing to listen. Simple as it sounds, it’s actually pretty hard to do but I can only put my best foot forward, with the strength of God, and do my best.

I’m not perfect. I have plenty of skeletons in my closet but ultimately I have to reach the point were I decide if my past is going to hold me back or if I will advance forward. I have born both good and bad fruit but my hearts desire is to bear fruit that is pleasing to God, which in turn is seen by men. Not that they may remark how good a Christian I am, but instead remark on what an awesome God I serve.

Keep your heads up.