A Healthy Barren Tree

Luke 13:6-9
In this parable, we have an interesting situation: a healthy, yet fruitless tree.  This tree obviously is expected to bear fruit (vs. 6), leading us to the conclusion that there is no obvious deformity or reason that the tree should be without fruit.  It is a healthy tree, expected to bear fruit, and yet none is found.  So the owner is ready to cut it down, but the vinedresser convinces him to give it one more year of continued maturity and fertilizing and opportunity to bear fruit, or else it will be cut down (vs. 7-9).  A clear-cut warning to us to take notice of.  From this parable we conclude that a healthy, yet fruitless tree is no different than a dead tree.  This tree is probably tall and leafy, lush and green, appealing to the eye and ripe for fruit bearing, and yet it is all an illusion, no fruit can be found.  What deception.  Does Jesus not warn us about this kind of life and "religion"?  The gospel is preached and received with great joy, but there is no persevering and maturing unto fruit bearing, no deep root (Luke 8:12-14).  A seed is planted and begins to sprout into a large tree, and yet it is all surface change, simple behavioral reform that in no way affects the heart.  A knowledge of Jesus, and a "belief in Jesus" is received and accepted and leads to some freedoms from certain bondages (freedom in Christ) and inappropriate, obviously gross behaviors are corrected but the heart is still immersed in flesh and self and one cannot persevere by mere head knowledge and is eventually once again entangled in worldly passions (II Peter 2:20-21).  There is a veneer of religion and Christianity but it springs from head knowledge and fleshly power and reform, a form of legalism and religion (Luke 11:39), but there is no heart reform, no heart detachment from worldly and fleshly lusts and priorities, no true conviction and power (II Timothy 3:5), evidenced by eventual backsliding and a return to old ways and habits.  The Bible says this condition is now worse than before they heard the truth (Luke 11:24-26), and, in fact, it would have been better for them to have not heard the truth than to hear it and once again be overcome (II Peter 2:21).  So many healthy trees, walking around with a condemning head knowledge of Christ and yet a complete lack of fruit in their lives.  It would be preferable to have no knowledge at all of Christ than to possess simple head knowledge.  Our coming to Christ must, absolutely must, lead to fruit bearing in our lives.  We cannot remain in the condition we were in when once enlightened.  There must be a continual progression in our faith, a maturing in our walk or we are condemned (Hebrews 5:11-6:6).  We cannot both claim Jesus, and his saving power in our lives and yet still be immersed in the ways of the world and what it is that we desire (Luke 8:13-14; James 4:4).  If we have not abandoned all to him, then what is it exactly that we have done?  Prayed a simple prayer?  Changed certain behaviors?  Professed a belief?  Sprouted a healthy, paper-thin tree?  Many people will have done these things, desiring to be with Jesus forever, and yet miss out completely (vs. 25-27).  They thought they had true faith and full knowledge of the gospel and an affection for Jesus, even thought they had been in his presence,and yet there was no fruit and no relationship.  Their tree was so healthy, and yet barren.  We must stop considering what we know and "believe", and start examining our fruit bearing.  Is there any?  Is it all just dead works, or actual Holy Spirit fruit (Hebrews 6:1, 7-8)?  Is our fruit self-manufactured or Holy Spirit wrought?  Is our tree healthy yet barren or full of ripe fruit?  Are in a relationship with Jesus, which always, inevitably leads to fruit bearing, or just acquainted with him, which can produce only a healthy yet barren tree?  The great news, however, is that Jesus is ready and willing to forgive and embrace and impart life if we are humble enough to repent of our pride and arrogance and deception and turn to him (vs. 34).  But if we refuse, and continue to embrace a false religion based on some simple beliefs, confessions and moral reform without the presence of any actual fruit, he will move on (vs. 5, 35).  Healthy barren trees are the first to be cut down.