It looks good on the outside, but...
In Matthew 21:17-19 we read the following "And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there. Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away." Jesus expected to find fruit on the fig tree. After all, there were leaves on the tree which would indicate that there should also be fruit. Jesus was hungry and here was something that promised satisfaction. It looked promising on the outside, but there was nothing on the inside, there was no fruit. The tree was useless.
Have you ever looked at a cake that on the outside look delicious but when you cut it the uncooked batter ran out, or perhaps you anticipate eating a nice hot biscuit that looks nice and golden brown on the outside, but when you open it you find that it's not done on the inside. People can be like this. They can be liked the half-baked pastry or the fig tree with only leaves and no fruit.
God's Word fixes the problem
God's word is able to complete us, to perfect us. I particularly like the way the King James Version expresses this in 2 Timothy 3:16-17. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. " Notice the word "throughly". Most translations express this with "thoroughly". Although though are similar in meaning, I like the word "throughly" because it conveys to me the idea of being "cooked all the way 'through' ". As you examine your life, you may see things that are lacking in your walk with the Lord. Perhaps one looking at you from the outside sees nothing amiss. You know your own heart. You know better.
How do you fix this, or rather, how does Christ fix it in you. He does so through His Word. There is nothing we need that His Word is not able to supply. Notice that Paul uses the term "perfect". His word is able to make us complete. If something, or rather, someone is complete, how incomplete are they? Completeness means that there is absolutely no incompleteness, that is, "we are 'cooked' all the way through".
Get into the Word of God!
If this be the case, then what should we be doing every single day? Right. We should be studying the Word and allowing it to get into us and do its finishing, completing or perfecting work upon our hearts. David says in Psalms 1:1-2, "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night."
What does Christ see on you, or more accurately, what does Christ see in you? If it is only leaves, if we are not 'done' all the way through, then let us get into His Word and let His Word get into us. |
