By Evang. Joachim P. Erameh
What determines whether a tree is good or bad is the kind of fruit it produces. Matthew 7:17 says a good tree brings forth good fruit, while a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. The way we live our lives here on earth matters a lot. It shows whether you are born again or not. Matthew 7:20 says by their fruits we shall know them. You cannot be living in sin and expect people to believe you are a Christian. If you don’t know, the people around you have eyes, and some of them will know you’re not born again.
God expects His children to bear good fruit the same way a good tree produces good fruit. Christians are expected to bear the fruit of the Spirit. The Bible warns against doing works of the flesh such as fornication, adultery, hatred, envying, drunkenness, murders, etc. (see Galatians 5:19-23). Philippians 1:11 says, “Being filled with the fruit of righteousness, which is by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” If you are truly born again, it will reflect in the way you live your life. That’s why 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, behold, old things are passed away and all things have become new.
The kind of fruit you bear before you die will determine whether you go to heaven or hell on the last day. Matthew 3:10b says, “…therefore every tree which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Dear reader, if you claim to be a Christian, what kind of fruit are you bearing? Good or evil fruit? A sinner, like the corrupt tree, cannot bear good fruit. If you are living in sin, repent and start bearing good fruits that will commend you to God.