Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. Me and my God had a rich time together this morning when most of my world was still sleeping…in more ways that one. There isn’t a “right” time or a “wrong” time to meet with the Living God, but it sure makes sense to me to meet with Him before my day begins and before the distractions set in. It’s in the wee hours when most of my world is sleeping that I can focus just on Him, and it’s in the wee hours when most of my world is sleeping that He speaks loud and clear to my heart. These apple trees served as a sweet reminder of what my Life could look like if I put my time with Him on the back-burner and if I remain in “sleep-mode”. No fruit is produced in sleep-mode in more ways that One. Isn’t that the way you see your journey too?
There’s nothing beautiful about an apple tree that’s gone dormant for the winter. Without its leaves and without its fruit it’s a pretty bizarre looking tree. Its branches seem to have no rhyme or reason…some reach up, some lay low and there’s everything else in between. It’s not a very tall tree compared to other trees…and it never will be by Design. Nothing about its dormant appearance leads you to believe that it’s strong, and just by outward appearances; you’d never believe that it has the potential to bear fruit. Though each mature apple tree can bear hundreds of pounds of apples each year; no fruit is produced while it’s in sleep-mode…and the same is true for you and for me. What good is a fruit tree that never bears fruit?
We ALL have the potential to bear an unlimited supply of delicious Fruit to the entire world for the rest of our Lives; but that doesn’t happen if we remain in sleep-mode. Getting our rest and sleeping in past the sunrise isn’t the problem. But being content to remain in sleep-mode day after day, and year after year with no desire to bear Fruit at all; is a Game Changer…and one that most will regret One Day. If these apple trees quit producing fruit; they are removed from the orchard and replaced with one that will. The apple tree serves no good purpose at all unless it does what it was Designed to do…to bear fruit….and neither do we. We weren’t Designed to take up space and we weren’t Born to merely exist for our own pleasures. As surely as the apple tree was Designed to bear fruit; so are we. And as surely as the apple tree that no longer bears fruit is removed and replaced with one that will…the same is true for our Lives. God Designed each one of us with a specific Purpose in mind…and the only way to Fulfill it is to Bear Fruit for Him. We serve no Good Purpose at all unless we do what we were Designed to do. What good is a fruit tree that never bears fruit?
I’m determined to bear Fruit for as long as I live and I know that my efforts will be Everlasting. The seed of my Faith has the potential to Produce Fruit into Eternity and I know that I don’t stand the risk of be Removed from the Orchard or replaced with another more willing than I am. There is no doubt that my physical body needs rest; and I’m sure to rest when it does. But there is no such thing as “resting” when it comes to Bearing Fruit for God Almighty. Dormant stages are dangerous stages and we can always Bear Fruit IF we’re willing. I’m not just willing…I’m determined.
How about you?
My Front Porch 