Fruit Becoming the Vineyard of God
And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none.
Luke 13:6
The Lord expects fruit becoming the
vineyard of God. ‘The vineyard,’ saith he, ‘in
a very fruitful hill’: witness the fruit brought
forth in all ages (Isa 5:1). The most barren
trees that ever grew in the wood of this
world, when planted in this vineyard by the
God of heaven, what fruit to Godward have
they brought forth! ‘Abel offered the more
excellent sacrifice’ (Heb 11:4). Enoch walked
with God three hundred years (Heb 11:5).
Noah, by his life of faith, ‘condemned the
world, and became heir of the righteousness
which is by faith’ (Heb 11:7). Abraham left
his country, and went out after God, not
knowing whither he went (Heb 11:8). Moses
left a kingdom, and run the hazard of the
wrath of the king, for the love he had to God
and Christ. What shall I say of them who had
trials, ‘not accepting deliverance, that they
might obtain a better resurrection? They were
stoned; they were sawn asunder; were
tempted; were slain with the sword; they
wandered about in sheep-skins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented’
(Heb 11:35-37). Peter left his father, ship, and
nets (Matt 4:18-20). Paul turned off from the
feet of Gamaliel. Men brought their goods
and possessions (the price of them) and cast it
down at the apostle’s feet (Acts 19:18-20).
And others brought their books together, and
burned them; curious books, though they
were worth fifty thousand pieces of silver. I
could add how many willingly offered
themselves in all ages, and their all, for the
worthy name of the Lord Jesus, to be racked,
starved, hanged, burned, drowned, pulled in
pieces, and a thousand calamities. Barren figtree,
the vineyard of God hath been a fruitful
place. What dost thou there? What dost thou
bear? God expects fruit according to, or
becoming the soil of the vineyard.
--John Bunyan, The Barren Fig Tree, p.13-14
What dost thou there? What dost thou bear?
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