Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ... (Matthew 7:15-20 ESV).
In the verses of Scripture above, according to the Gospel of Matthew, it says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.” As the adage goes, “Everything that looks good is not good for you.” In order to accept certain things and even, certain people into your life, it may require some further observations. You cannot always look at someone and say, “That is my future spouse. I know it. No one can tell me any differently!” Well, did you check to see what God has to say about this individual? When you are about to make a decision, especially one that can impact you for the rest of your life, check the fruit before you bite!
So, it is with your decision to walk with God. Do you know the requirements to walk with God? Are you ready to give up your old habits to take on new ones that are of God? Will you be a hearer and a doer of the Word? Do you realize that you must pray in order to make it on this Christian journey? What do you know about the Man? Do not just walk into a church and fall in love with the beauty of the building and everyone with whom you talk immediately. Do not get impressed with the fine cars that you see on the church parking lot. Do not get all excited because the preacher “can preach up a storm”! Please do not get all “starry-eyed” when you look at the preacher. Remember he is a sinner, too, for the Word says in Romans 3:23 (ESV), “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Are you ready to take this walk with God for all the right reasons? Check the fruit before you bite!
According to John 15:16 (ESV), Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” If your walk with the Lord is real, you will bear good fruit. If it is fake, you will bear bad fruit. Check out the tree and the fruit that it bears before you decide to follow along, for a tree is known by the fruit that it bears!
Have a wonderfully blessed week, be thankful in all circumstances, and never leave home without Him!
(Anna Bright is a minister and educator in Walterboro. She can be reached at abrightcolumn@lowcountry.com)
