Temptations in the Desert: Barren Trees

What would you do with your life if you only a year left to live? Many of us know someone these days who has had to face such a decision. What would you do - go on a long-dreamed-for vacation? Spend more time with your grandkids? Learn that foreign language, apologize to your lostlong relative, make up for time lost or wrongs done?

Read Psalm 63:1-8 and Luke 13:1-9. 

The conversation with Jesus begins by talking about two different incidents that involved tragic and sudden deaths. Already the fragility of life is front and center, as well as Jesus’ firm denial that God brings punishment upon ‘worse’ sinners. Jesus issues an urgent call to repentance in the midst of the conversation – that since we never know how long we have, we need to turn back to God now. 

And then comes the barren fig tree – a parable of divine grace following the call to repentance. During Jesus’ time (and today), good land was a precious commodity, not to be wasted on trees and crops that were not producing. The natural instinct is to get rid of those plants – what are they possibly good for? And yet the gardener – the one who knows the tree intimately – argues for one more year, a stay of execution for the fig tree. He covers the tree in manure, fertilizing and tending and caring for it. 

How often when life throws manure on us do we feel buried and barren? How often are we tempted to just give up, that whatever we do doesn’t make a difference anyway, that we can’t ever be good enough or faithful enough or smart enough? How often do we doubt God’s ability to tend to us when we are going through barren times in the desert? How often are we tempted to see life’s fragility and instead of urgently turning around, we throw our hands in the air and say 'it doesn’t matter?' 

A barren tree in the snow 'desert' at Heartland this week

During the desert times, we feel a pendulum swing between last week’s temptation – the temptation to control everything – and this week’s temptation – the temptation to give up when we feel powerless. But the oasis in the desert is the divine mercy that our Gardener offers us – that while the call to repentance is urgent, Jesus is not ready to give up on us barren trees just yet. Jesus knows that with continued care and second chances, we are capable of bearing the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of the vine, because He is the one in control. 

Our God of second and third and fourth chances desperately wants us to bear fruit – to feed the world, for our lives to be a witness to the loving kindness of our Gardener. After this winter is over, will you bear fruit? Will you be a drink for those thirsting for knowledge of our Savior? Our God, who is our help and upholds us, is waiting patiently. 

Grace and peace, 
Pastor Kate