Destroying a Fig Tree

Bible Passage: Matt 21:18-22; Mk 11:12-14; 11:20-24

That Which is Required of Us

The fig tree could not give what it was expected to provide, and Jesus pronounced judgement on it. This is perhaps the only miracle of Jesus that involved judgement. As children of God, God expects certain good qualities from us (Micah 6:8; Colossians 1:10). As He patiently teaches us what is good through His Word and daily guidance, and waits for us to display good traits in expectancy, is He pleased or disappointed by what He sees?

It is funny and wonderful at the same time how some good friends in church are able to show us the areas in our characters which need improvement. Sometimes they may not point it out directly, but through our interactions, and as I reflect upon my own behaviour, I realised that I too have many areas to work on to be a better person.

Earnest prayers also give us strength to be upright Christians, accountable in our every thought, speech and action. To every action, there is a reaction (in our context – consequence). Newton’s third law which every physics student and engineer knows. If we are not responsible for our words and actions, we may affect or even harm other brethren who hear us, and it is not too far-fetched to say that our irresponsible words may even cause chaos in church. Would our Lord be pleased if the very place where the truth is supposed to be heard and shared, teems with gossip and strife?

Have we fallen short of what God expects of us and taken for granted His grace toward us? Will we be ready and stand confident before our Lord Jesus to be judged when the time comes?

That which is Formed from our Believe and Trust – our Faith in God

Above all, this incident of the withered fig tree teaches us that we must have faith.

I like one preacher’s analogy of faith – a boy watching a man balancing on a tight-rope, successfully walking from one end of the rope right across to the other end. Having seen the performer successfully completing his feat, this boy believes in his heart that the performer is able to repeat a similar feat by walking backwards across the rope to his starting point. But this boy would not necessarily trust the performer with his life to carry him across the tight rope in the same balancing act.

It is only when belief is coupled with complete trust, that one is said to have faith in something or someone.

“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

~ Mark 11: 24

Believing and then trusting, is not easy. We may say we have faith in God, but do we really?

Let us review our own prayers. The above verse implies that there may be some things which we have not received. And from the Bible, we know that God wishes to give these things to us. What does He wish to give us? A good thing – His precious Holy Spirit, a good spouse, peace, wisdom, children, spiritual growth, grace!

Our Father wants to give these beautiful things to us! Yet in our prayers, we express a lot of apprehension, we worry about our other priorities in life, we are distracted by fears from our past, and have doubts about our future (Deut 28:66).

There is an English idiom – taking the leap of faith. Our faith in God to grant us these beautiful things which He has specially prepared for us, is a faith which is steady and lasting. If we have obeyed His Word and tried hard, and we do not doubt, we can experience assurance in life. This is hardly a one-time close-your-eyes-hold-your-breath blind leap into some unknown circumstances. When we are able to pray earnestly for a good thing, believing and trusting with all our heart that God will provide, we will have it.

Like our earthly fathers who give us the good things we ask for, how much more our Creator who fashioned us one by one?

“Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”

~ Psalm 100:3

May God teach us to ask for a good thing!

Lastly, here’s one of my favourite hymns which I’d like to share with you:

Hymn: Have Faith in God

Have faith in God when your pathway is lonely,

He sees and knows all the way you have trod;

Never alone are the least of His children;

Have faith in God, have faith in God.

Chorus:

Have faith in God, He’s on His throne;

Have faith in God, He watches o’er His own;

He cannot fail, He must prevail;

Have faith in God, have faith in God.

Have faith in God when your prayers are unanswered,

Your earnest plea He will never forget;

Wait on the Lord, trust His Word and be patient,

Have faith in God, He’ll answer yet.

Have faith in God in your pain and your sorrow,

His heart is touched with your grief and despair;

Cast all your cares and your burdens upon Him,

And leave them there, oh, leave them there.

Have faith in God though all else fail about you;

Have faith in God, He provides for His own;

He cannot fail though all kingdoms shall perish,

He rules, He reigns upon His throne.