Fruits of Life

John 15:1-8

 

1. As we are already in September, we can feel that summer is leaving and autumn is approaching again. Change of seasons is the grace of God, declaring that this universe is continuously in the faithful hands of our Creator and Ruler. Soon the green leaves of trees and forests will turn red and yellow beautifully to make us excited and praise God. By change of seasons, God teaches us a great lesson that our life also has spring, summer, fall and winter. We are all different in seasons of life, some in spring, some in summer, and some in fall approaching winter. It is the providence of God and we need to follow it without fear or resistance. But, in Christ, there is no winter! Our death will not be cold like winter but we will live in the wonderful and eternal spring in heaven with the triune God, our Creator, Savior, and Helper.

2. However, in this life, we have to follow the seasons of life faithfully and joyfully with appreciating the God-given gift of each season and moment of life. In fact, every season is beautiful and meaningful. In this beginning of fall, what do you have in your mind? A sport store put a board with big letters: “Think Snow!” Of course, we will have cold winter with lot of snow. But, now let us learn about the lesson of fall season. Fall is the season of fruits and harvest! God gave us only one life to harvest. Everybody lives one life and after death we will be evaluated and judged by God whether our life was fruitful or not. Our life is the command of God to live and bear fruits abundantly. It is not a vacation or free time without any task. Our life is a mission to successfully achieve God-given task for the world. Our life is not ours but that of our Creator and Sender.

3. Then, what are the God-approving fruits of our life? Why do so many people fail here? Many people do not think about the true fruits of life in their whole life. Many people are simply busy to survive, support and serve their family. For the rest of time they are busy to entertain themselves in many ways. Even some do not care their family but themselves. Some people search for meaning and self-fulfillment whatever it is. Some people are proud of the secular achievement that they have made for themselves whether it is fame, riches, power, honor, or whatever they like. Everybody wants some kinds of fruit and strives to bear fruit in their life. But they all fail to the divine standard.

4. Why? Because “no branch can bear fruit by itself.”(4) Yes, the biggest misunderstanding of ourselves is that we are an independent being. No, not at all! We did not make us. We did not give life to us. We did not make us to be born in this world. This world, our environments for living, also did not begin to exist by itself. Every being has its origin and cause of existence outside of itself. We are a dependent being! We are a weak, limited, and passively created being. We are creature of God for particular purpose. We are dependent to our family, community, and the world. We are not alone, and we cannot live alone. But all of us and all of the world are dependent to Jesus, for the Bible says that “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”(Jn 1:3) So, Jesus said to us: “I am the vine; you are the branches.”(5a) Jesus Christ not only created us through him but also redeemed us from sin. Therefore, we are not separable from him. We are his branches!

5. Accordingly, we may not try to bear fruit by ourselves. If we do, we will fail to bear the God-approving fruits of our life. Suppose that you are married and you are trying to make your own achievements without relating with your spouse. What would be the result? Jesus is even and far more related as vine and branch. He is our foundation and line of life and death. We have to give up our own project that is independently pursued without relating with Jesus, if we do not want our life fruitless and empty. We can try, but you will understand sooner or later that it is meaningless and vain. Whether you are young or old, believe in Jesus as your vine, your foundation, your rock, and your source of meaning. If you build your life upon the worldly standard of achievement, you will be regarded in this world but when you leave in this world it will become nothing left. If you build your life upon the popular trend or thought, you will be regarded for a while but when it is changed it will be useless.

6. Build your life upon Jesus, the eternal and solid Rock, and try to bear the fruits of life by depending on Jesus, the true vine. Jesus said that “If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”(5b) Everyday in your life, in everything you do, relate with Jesus and he will give power to bear fruit. Grapevine is a powerful tree. In a suburban area in London there is a 1000 year-old grapevine with 2 feet thick trunk and 200 feet long branches. It bears much grapes every year. Because grape branches are very long and vine trunk is not tall, it can be easily misunderstood that branch bear fruit by itself. But when it is cut off, immediately the branch, however long and strong it is, starts to dry and wither. If your life does not bear fruits abundantly and you are not happy or peaceful, check your relationship with Jesus. Like our blood should freely flow throughout our body to be healthy and cheerful, the blood of Jesus should flow freely throughout us without any blocking or stopping by the power of the Holy Spirit.

7. Our life is eternal. Our present life of less than 100 years is not all. Our life is like only an entrance exam in the eternal life. Our long life will begin after we die. Therefore, prepare for the eternal life by bearing God-assigned fruits in this short life. For us Christians who have eternal life in Christ, however old we are in the earthly age, we are forever young. There is no retirement for us. We are all young in the eternal life. When I was in seminary, a 70-years old man applied for admission. I interviewed him and he said he will serve the Lord until he dies after retiring from dentistry. Yes, how old we are, how healthy we are, we have to bear fruit everyday. Then, your life will glorify God and prove that you are a disciple of Jesus (8).

8. Whatever is related with Jesus, our true Vine, and powered by Him will be God-pleasing fruits of our life. But the Bible suggests four kinds of fruits: Winning souls to Christ (Rom 1:13, Mat 28:19-20), sharing with those in need (Rom 15:25-28, 2 Cor 8:1-2, 9:12-14), developing Christ-like character, i.e., the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:16, 22-23, 2 Peter 1:5-8), and praising God and give thanksgiving (Heb 13:15). They are the fruits of obeying the commands of God as explained in the following verses 9-17.

9. Jesus concluded that “This is my command: Love each other.” (17) God does not care how much we are rich or poor, how much we are educated, how much we are powerful physically and socially, how much we are popular or not. God cares only how much we love truly and passionately. Love God with passion and truth and obey His commands for our life. Love the peoples whom God gave you passionately and truly. Love your spouse, your children, your parents, your brothers and sisters. Love your brothers and sisters in Christ whom God gave you to love in the same church community. Love your friends. Love the needy people of the community spiritually and physically, the Korean community and Kalamazoo community. Nobody knows how much life is left to us. Before winter comes, let us love and bear fruits!