6 And He told them this parable: A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find [any].
7 So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground [to deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room]?
8 But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir, [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil].
9 Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out.
Luke 13:6-9 AMPC
Time is Short
Jesus is giving a parable to some of the Galileans and His disciples about the fig tree. Right before this parable He tells them that they all must repent. If they do not repent, then they will perish. Then He tells them the parable of the fig tree. In this parable the owner said to the vinedresser to cut down the fig tree because it did not produce fruit for 3 years. The vinedresser says to let it stay for one more year and he wanted to prune it by digging around it and adding manure. If it didn't produce fruit in one more year, then they would cut it down.
This parable lets us know that God is merciful. We also see here that mercy does run out. I know in my past I could have been this fig tree. For many years I called myself a Christian but did not bear fruit or live a lifestyle according to my faith. God was merciful to me and I am grateful that He spared me and allowed me to live. Now, I dedicate my whole life to serving Him. I could never repay back what He has done for me, but I will serve Him with all of my heart.
Time is short for many people and they need to wake up and repent. The Lord has been merciful and is slow with His wrath. He gives us time to repent so we do not perish.
9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 AMPC
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