Walking the walk

So the Bible says....Jesus more specifically "You shall know them by their fruits".  Meaning that if I was to look at an apple tree I could expect apples to grow from it.  If I was to look at a pear tree...I would expect pears.  I would not expect apples from a pear tree or vice versa.  Nor would I expect a dead tree to produce any kind of fruit at all.  If a tree looks healthy and does not bare any fruit then is the the tree or the fruit?  I think it is the tree. 

You see, Looks can be deceiving....just because a tree looks healthy doesn't mean that it is.  And just because a person appears to be a Christian doesn't mean they are.  It's interesting to hear how we justify our behavior...we say things like, "I'm a good person"  or "I would never hurt anyone"...but when it comes right down to it I have discovered that we are judging ourselves on the wrong criteria.  You see, if I compare myself to another sinner then where is the measuring stick there?  But when I compare myself to God's standards via the Bible...I found that I am in deep trouble.  But there was a day that I gave my heart, soul, mind and body to Jesus.  And that day changed my life. 

Once upon a time I was the guy that said to myself, "I would never hurt anyone"  or "I am a good person".  But when I felt the grace of Jesus fall on me, I felt the scales lift from my eyes that had blinded me to the truth for years.  Not only am I not a good person, but I was hell-bound.  Readers, just because you believe in God doesn't mean you are ok.  Satan believes in God and he isn't ok.  I believe in Elvis, but we've never met.  But when you put your faith in Jesus Christ as the only Son of God and your replacement for the sin debt that was owed to God.  Then a change comes and the fruit that I never had begins to show signs of buds.  I have discovered that a life apart from God isn't worth living.  Because it will never compare to the life and joy and peace that I have found since the day He became my Lord. 

So all that to say this,   If you don't know whether or not you are saved, you are probably not.  And if nobody else knows you are saved then you are either not living it correctly or you are not saved.  Jesus brings fruit to a dead and rotting tree.  And if you are a good tree baring bad fruit is it the tree or the fruit?  And that's not just how dold sees it...That's how the Bible tells it.

In Christ,
G