Apple Trees and Look-a-Likes

by Rich Carlson

"How much more will your father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Matthew 7:11b (NIV)

Today I’ll try to wrap up our discussion of the Sermon on the Mount. There is so much in this sermon!

If my son asks for bread, I won’t give him a rock. And if my grandchildren ask for a fish, I won’t give them a snake! That’s not a great demonstration of love and affection—it’s a no-brainer. If I can be that good, Jesus says, then imagine how much more loving and kind God must be. But the sermon concludes with some cautions:

It’s not easy finding the gate and path that leads through life successfully, according to God’s measure of success (Matt. 7:13-14)

                There will be confusing messages along the way (verse 15)

                Some will think they are doing fine when they are not (verses 16-20)

                It all depends on the kind of foundation I have (verses 24-27)

I used to think that this "narrow gate and hard path" theology was about getting into heaven. Fortunately, I have discovered the path to heaven and eternal life is easy—"believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you I will be saved!" But the journey through this life while I wait for eternal life is not so easy because I have to perpetually do battle with my own sinfulness and the sinfulness of everyone else on this world. I need to stay focused on the right path because there are so many "distracters."

Everything that everyone says is not necessarily true. If it’s true in politics, I’m afraid it is even more true in religion. I have to remain attentive to what God says and not what people think God means.

People can say anything they want, but they can only permanently produce on the outside what they have developed on the inside. And given enough time, the outside usually reveals what’s on the inside.

I don’t panic any more (usually) when bad seems to prosper or evil seems to be winning. I don’t worry about eloquence that defeats my simple words or outward manifestations that seem so good and right but don’t ring true. I just wait. I don’t judge. Apple trees usually produce apples in the end even though I may not be sure if it’s really an apple tree early on. Waiting without judging and not acting prematurely usually allows time to reveal the truth.

Some don’t even know they aren’t apple trees and just continue acting like they are. Some wish they were apple trees and try to be apple trees. Others fake the process because they believe the rewards of being an apple tree are better than what they currently have. In spite of all this, only apple trees produce apples. Wait and watch and I’ll see what kind of a tree someone is.

As I sang it at church—"the wise man built his house upon the rock"…not the sand! And God has not only called me to be wise, he has equipped me with all the resources and information I need to find my way into the narrow gate and along hard paths and to weave my way through the confusing messages of this life and culture. He’s given me patience to wait and watch rather than judge falsely or follow foolishly. And he has provided an anchor point, a firm foundation, that if I choose to build my life on Him and His plans, I will find my way through the maze of this world and into the magnificence of His kingdom.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.