During this time of the year, many make a ‘sacrifice of fools’ and are filled with excitement and expectations for the coming year. They make promises, such as:

– “I’m going to lose weight this year!”

– “I’m going to dedicate myself to learn a new language in 2020!”

– “I’m going to pay off my debts and start saving money this year!”

– “I’m going to get married this year!”

However, many of these desires are just emotions.

When the time comes to put things into practice, the person does absolutely nothing to accomplish them. He lives each new day as he did the day before, without goals, without objectives, without sacrifices and, as a consequence, without results.

When he realizes it, the time has passed and the complaining begins: “My God! This year has flown by so quickly! It’s already December… ”

And again, he makes promises for the following year, which he certainly won’t do. And the cycle continues…

The problem is that when a person is undisciplined with what is Natural, which represents life here on Earth, this person is most likely also undisciplined with what is Supernatural, which represents his Spiritual life and communion with God.

The Lord Jesus spoke the following parable:

“(…) A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.’ ” Luke 13.6-9

In this parable,

The fig tree is us;

The vineyard is the Kingdom of Heaven – Salvation;

The owner of the vineyard is God the Father;

The keeper of the vineyard is the Lord Jesus;

The expected fruit of the fig tree is the Holy Spirit.

When we truly surrender to God, He delivers us, cleanses us, and gives us Salvation. Even though we are a fig tree, He plants us in His vineyard, and has patience with us until we bear fruit from the Holy Spirit.

In this parable, we see that God becomes angry because He’s been waiting for three years to find fruit on the fig tree, but He hasn’t found any. The fig tree continued the same; nothing changed. God even commands for the fig tree to be cut down.

But the Lord Jesus, who is the Advocate of the fig trees, asks for ONE more year. He says he will invest, care and fertilize the fig tree as the last opportunity. HE BELIEVES IN US! But He says, “And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down.”

This parable fills us with fear!

Has God been seeking fruit in you for years, but hasn’t found any?

Did the Lord Jesus ask God to make 2020 your last opportunity?

Grab hold of this last opportunity, so that your life will be fruitful for God in 2020!

“I [JESUS] am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15.5

God bless you!

Contributed by: Pastor Leandro Maquinez