Something Impossible.
For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. - Hebrews 6:7-8 ESV
Do you remember the quality of the fruit that was available in our shops after the years of drought in South Africa? It was smaller, less sweet and generally disappointing compared to fruit of earlier years. We have largely recovered from that and this year’s fruit has been fantastic, especially the soft citrus. When there has been no rain, it’s no use blaming the land for the poor crops, but when the rain has been good and the land still doesn’t produce - then there’s a serious problem.
Today’s passage condemns land that has had constant rain, everything it needs to produce the best fruit, and yet produces nothing but thorns. If land can’t produce fruit when it gets everything it needs, then it’s impossible to get it to produce fruit. Land like that, says the Scripture, get’s burned.
Christians are compared to land. The passage says that people who have experienced the incredible power of the Word of God and His Holy Spirit in their lives, are expected to produce the fruit of faithful obedient lives. The more God reveals Himself to us, the more is expected from us. It is a challenging passage that cuts to the heart of the message of Hebrews. Don’t fall away from God.
Jesus warns the Pharisees with exactly the same message in Matthew 3:7-10. He was particularly harsh towards them (as opposed to the tax collectors and prostitutes) because they should have known better, they had received all the information and experience they required, and yet were not living the lives God required of them as their creator. Encouragement is a great motivation for doing the right thing, but we must also take note of the warnings, and of God’s loving reminders that faith in Christ must produce good fruit, or else it is of no value at all. Sometimes we need strong words from a loving Father to bring us back to Him and keep us from straying. The severity of the words of warning does not diminish the extent of His love for us.
Worship.
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy, never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it
Mount of Thy redeeming love
Here I raise my Ebenezer
Here there by Thy great help I've come
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
Oh, that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Clothed then in the blood washed linen
How I'll sing Thy wondrous grace
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Take my ransomed soul away
Send Thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day
Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be
Let that goodness like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here's my heart, oh, take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Prayer.
Dear Father God Thank You for Your relentless love for us, Your children. Please forgive us for wandering, for straying from You and Your Word. Oh Lord please keep us close by loving encouragement and if necessary - by rebuke. Lord we know that Your loving rebuke is better than any false assurance the world can give. Thank You for the great price You have paid for each one of us. May Your will be done in us Father. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Service.
Accountability is a great tool to keep us from straying from the Lord. When we invite those we trust to keep us accountable, we give them the permission to warn us of our wrong doing. We should pray for the Lord to help us to keep each other accountable, just like good exercise partners help keep us going to gym, walking, running or swimming. Ask the Lord to help us to find the right person to help with this, and the right person we can help in the same way.