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You must have been told before, and very often:
This is not
our way; in anything we must have principles, follow the rules. This is not the right
time. There is a time for everything. Be patient. Be good. Be
reasonable.
And all the while your heart is burning. You have never felt
more worked up, and you know you are in the right. Follow the rules? You asked. What if those who made the rules or
are supposed to uphold the rules don’t follow the rules? You have worked hard.
You have played fair. You have hoped much. Yes, never have you had this much
hope. But what now? You asked. Am I to keep on waiting? Until when? Until what?
A wise man once said: Hope
deferred makes the heart sick! (Prov 13:12)
You cannot help but suspect that at times rules are made to
help keep those in power in power. And they appeal to your decency to behave
like a gentleman, to play by the rules, to bide the right time. If you fall for
it you will be sick. Very sick. Perpetually sick.
What then should you do?
Something stunning happened one day when Jesus traveled to
worship at the holy temple. Early
morning, on the way to the temple with His disciples, Jesus felt hungry. Seeing
a fig tree from afar, He approached it hoping to find some fruit to eat. But
there was none. Hungry and disappointed, you know what Jesus did? He cursed the
fig tree, saying, “From now on no man shall eat fruit from you again.” And the
fig tree withered from its roots up.
Beholding the feat in itself is jaw-dropping to say the least. Curse a
tree and it dies?! Really cool. But to me, the most amazing thing is that the
good old book explains that there was no fruit because it was not the season
for figs!
Well, if it was not the season for figs how could you expect to have figs? Isn’t it unfair to expect fruit on the fig tree? Isn’t Jesus’ hope of finding something to eat on the fig trees out of season unreasonable? Yes - if you look from the perspective of the world and the fig tree. No - if you look from the perspective of Jesus and His Kingdom.
In Jesus’ own estimate he is the rightful owner of
everything created including the fig tree. All things created must serve their
function – in the case of the fig tree to produce figs for man – and in the manner
prescribed by the Creator. The corruption on the earth as a result of sin has
so distorted the original purpose of the Creator that things created for mankind
have demanded to serve on their own terms – in their seasons. Of course Jesus
could not accept this when he walked in. He took the opportunity to demonstrate
His power.
Is your hope unreasonable? Never - if God is with you. Like
Jesus, your words carry great power. Use them to remove the mountain that
stands between you and the abundant life that God has promised you.
Are you ready? Are you
ready? Are you ready?
Curse the fig tree!
Scripture: Mk 11:12-24
