CHAPLAIN’S PAGE: By Their Fruits Ye shall Know Them
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.“ – (Matthew 7:15-20)
BELlEVERS and unbelievers alike ignore these words of our Lord. In the commercial world, if the credentials of captains of industry and others were examined, a great deal of heartache would be avoided.
However, it is in the spiritual realm that the greatest dangers lie. The principle behind Christ’s words to the multitude on the Mount stands for all time. Although we live in a so-called enlightened age, in which man believes that he has no need to heed the words of a teacher living two thousand years ago, nevertheless, events are proof in themselves that we are as vulnerable to falling for Satan’s mischief as in earlier times.
Even worse, our spiritual leaders have opted to ignore the authority of Scripture, and attempt to woo the present generation with their hearty “cool” and “with it” worldliness. They appear not to have noticed that their attempts have not met with any measure of success.
“Ye shall know them by their fruits”. This stands as a mighty beacon, a beacon of light and warning. How so? It is a light in as much as Christ was saying that we each must become a “good tree”. It is a warning enabling us to detect whether others are good, or corrupt.
Thankfully, this principle is not entirely unknown and those who use it will say something to the effect “Check their track record”. Do we Christians check the track record of those who declare that they are Christians? It may seem uncharitable to check out the credentials of those who purport to be what they may later turn out not to be. Christians must trust people and assume that they are what they appear to be, or must they?
Again, we should heed the warning of Christ when He was instructing the Apostles on their ministry,
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” – (Matthew 10:16)
I believe the waming stands equally for us today. It is because the rank and file has not heeded this great waming that the Established Church has been taken over by Bishops who have track records which would show where they stand in relation to the Scriptures,
“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” – (Mark 13:22)
“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” – (Matthew 24:11)
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” – (2 Peter 2:1)
Why has all this been allowed to come about? Because their credentials were not checked.
It is of interest to note an important point here: in Mark 13:22, quoted above, “if it were possible to seduce, even the elect”.
By implication, it is not possible for the Elect to be deceived. Why? Because the Elect are familiar with Scripture, and try to live by all its precepts.
Sadly, there are others who come under Christ’s condemnation, when He spoke of the fruits. It concerns those who have accepted Christ as Saviour, and brought forth no fruits. He said, in Matthew 7:19,
“Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”
Peter, in 2 Peter 1:8-9 qualifies the meaning, leaving no margin for doubt:
“For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
“Barren” also means “idle”, “useless”, “unfruitful”, “dilatory” and “ineffective”.
These texts should be a waming to us in our time. What does “bearing fruit” mean? Firstly, we must never be ashamed to admit that Christ is central in our lives. Secondly, we must always be guided by what the Scriptures say. We must become so familiar with the Word that we are able to recognise all that is going on around us, and evaluate its source.
James, in his epistle, has the final word on how we should spend our time in the Lord’s service,
“But wilt thou know, 0 vain man, that faith without works is dead?” – (James 2:20)
