Fake or real? This is the question we ask about what we read and what we see. A term that became popular a couple of years ago is called “fake news.” Then there are fake products. Companies are suing right and left those who are producing “knock-off” products. They look like the real thing, but they are not. Many of the stories you read and products you see are so convincing in appearance, that it would take an expert to identify a fake.
Well, today we will look at “the real deal.” Jesus said in John 15:1 that he is THE TRUE VINE! He may have used this illustration because of the abundance of vineyards in the area. The Jews understood using the vine. They were familiar with Psalm 80 and Isaiah 5, where Israel is called the vine and God the vinedresser. As the Vine, Jesus is the only one who has the strength and fullness of life to produce the fruits of righteousness that God desires from us. A healthy vine will yield all the proper nourishment, water, minerals, etc., for all the branches to be healthy and produce fruit. There is no other source of nourishment for the branches except through the Vine!
God the Father is the husbandman or vinedresser. He takes care of the vineyard. He nurtures it and trims it. The trimming is to take away all the dead material that will retard growth and fruit-bearing. Those that bear fruit will be purged or cut back so they will produce more fruit. However, in verses 2 and 6, the vinedresser removes the branches that are not producing. He burns them up. God is grossly interested in the well-being, growth, and welfare of the vine.
John 15:1-2 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
John 15:6 “If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”
If we are not connected to the true vine, our efforts will be like the knockoff products we see in stores. We may look like the real thing, but after a while, reality will surface. You will not be able to stand the test of time. Many stop serving or put limits on what they will do for the Lord because it’s too exhausting. If that is your situation, you may not be truly connected.
There is no shame in realizing you have clung to a knockoff when it comes to your faith. The shame is not realizing it before it’s too late. One of the reasons we have passages like this from the mouth of Jesus himself is to help us know for sure if we are truly his. Nothing less than a full surrender of our will to His will do. We must understand that our salvation depends on what he did, not something we do. If we are truly saved, we need to be aware of our condition. If we feel spiritually sick let the Vine supply us with our needs. It is the right kind of nutrient that can come only from Him. If you are a healthy branch you will be producing fruit. Your first question to yourself to test your spiritual health, should be what kind of fruit am I producing? We should be producing and thinking about the present, not relishing what we did years ago.
John 15:4-5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
When my boys were still at home, from time to time I would go into the room at bedtime, and sit at the end of the bed for a little chat. Usually, my question would be “Where are you spiritually.” Their first response would be “I’m fine.” Then the question would come “Where is your fruit.” I wanted them to be honest with themselves about where they were in their relationship with Christ. We cannot change to bring proper fruit until we are honest with ourselves.
Real abiding brings fruit, which increases to much fruit! So, I ask you this question, where is your fruit? Are you real or fake?
Excellent