Got Fruit ?

Remembering back to my teenage days of attending church, I recall not the exact date of deciding to be baptized, but rather the events leading up to it.  I was about 14 or 15, and there had been some activities and speakers coordinated for the youth group during the summer.

Among the activities that stands out was a session on secular music.  A group had been invited in to give a lecture to the teens on secular music and backmasking.  Talk about being freaked out!!  In addition there had been several studies and discussions on the Book of Revelation as well during that week of summer youth activities, accompanied by a short “Left Behind-esque” movie that was presented to the youth group.  Needless to say, I had the “hell” scared out of me that summer, and made a decision to accept Jesus’ offer to be my personal Lord & Savior.

Now, to be honest I hadn’t a clue at the time as to what being a Christian truly meant or demanded, I mean I knew that I had to be “good”, but the relational aspect was beyond me.  I wasn’t interested in finding out what the Bible prescribes for being “good”, the main thing was that I wanted to save my neck.

To quote the late comic Richard Pryor on his drug related brush with death during a freebasing episode: “Fire is inspirational. They should use it in the Olympics, because I ran the 100 in 4.3.”  And in the same thought fear can debilitate or “inspire” one to spring into action.

Leading up to His crucifixion (murder), Jesus shared some powerful words with His disciples (Peter, James, John & Andrew) on the Mount of Olives concerning the End of the Age in Mark 13.  As I read the chapter, I couldn’t help wonder if the disciples felt fearful of the things Jesus spoke of.  After being asked what signs will precede the End of the Age, Jesus describes to the disciples that magnificent buildings will be toppled, wars and rumors of wars will prevail, arrests &  floggings of believers will occur.  Jesus goes on to tell of desolation, dreadful days,distress; the sun being darkened, the moon ceasing to give it’s light, the stars falling from the sky and the heavenly bodies being shaken following the days of distress.  Seems like some significantly eventful happenings that are bound to stir up the adrenaline in my opinion!  But wait… let’s not forget about those false Christs & false prophets that Jesus mentions.

Mark 13:21-23
21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

From the reading of Mark 13, the persistence of Jesus’ warnings to His followers stood out from the mental pictures painted of the chaos and destruction.  Jesus peppers His speech to the disciples throughout Mark 13 with these instructions:

• 5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name…
• 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed….
• 9 “You must be on your guard…
• 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand…
• 13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.
• 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it.
• 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.
• 28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree…
• 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.
• 34… and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
• 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!‘ “

Fear may have been what prompted this knucklehead to follow Jesus, there is however the flip-side of the coin; those claiming to be Christian that use fear coupled with warped doctrines to lead folks astray.  As I read of Jesus warning His disciples, I couldn’t help but wonder if He had an image in His mind of people that failed to take His words to heart, running around like Chicken Little yelling: “The Sky is falling, the sky is falling!”

Grace and peace be with you.