One night I was taken in the spirit, and found myself in a beautifully lit place. I was seated at a wooden round table that could fit, at the most, four people. At the center of the table was a wooden bowl, full of fruit. This particular bowl had all sorts of lush berries in it.
I looked up and saw Jesus sitting directly across from me.
I was so excited to see Him! I then began to look around, and saw that the place was full of other wooden round tables, and they too all had bowls full of fruit, various in type, and all placed at the center of the tables.
I got really excited, and thought to myself, "This is it! We've arrived!"
I stood up as my eyes searched the room looking for familiar faces. Jesus knew my thoughts.
"Sit down" the Lord said in a gentle voice. But my excitement overtook me.
"Lord! This is it! I exclaimed. I need to go get this person, and that person..." I rambled off names of those who I knew and were dear to me.
Again, the Lord spoke, this time with a more stern tone.
"Sit down Mena" He said.
My focus shifted back to Him. I slowly sat back down, never taking my eyes off of Him again. The Lord continued;
"There's no need to go and get anyone. If they bear good fruit, they will be here."
The tone in His voice then shifted and I could see the look of concern on His face.
"The problem with my children is that they are not bearing good fruit. They are seeking that which is earthly, and building their treasures there. Many are only seeking the gifts (1 Cor 12:1-11), which are bound to the first life. They cannot bring it here because there is no need. Only the fruits can be brought into eternity; and the good fruit is the manifestation of my Father's character in their lives."
"Tell them...go and tell my children, that in order to sit at my table, they must bear good fruit."
"And how does one begin to bear that fruit Lord?" I asked almost in a whisper.
"They must first learn to dwell with Me" Jesus answered.
Jesus told us in Matthew 7:19 that the tree that does not bear good fruit is axed down, and thrown into the fire. This represents eternal separation from God, which happens in hell. In Matthew 21:18-22, we find that Jesus cursed a fig tree because it bore no fruit at all, which the scriptures tell us withered away and died.
Jesus uses several illustrations in comparing us to fruit or fruit trees because inside of each fruit lays a seed; and the seed represents salvation.
Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, the seed of salvation is planted in us. In due time that seed is expected to take root, spring forth, and bear fruit in its season. But for those who become stagnant in their walk with Christ (by allowing their flesh to rule), the fruit either is rotted, or is not produced at all.
Later, in Galatians 5:16-26, the Apostle Paul lists the lusts (desires) of the flesh, which we are to avoid, and then he lists the Fruit of the Spirit, which we are to walk in, and therefore live by. Here is the scripture below:
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and do not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, revelries and the like; of which I told you beforehand, just as I told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. And those who are in Christ, have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. -NKJV
So with this, we need to evaluate ourselves. So many of us that profess to be "Children of God," lack the very characteristics of Him. Children are a reflection of their parents; whether in image or likeness (character), or both. As it is written, If we live in the Spirit, let us walk in the Spirit, meaning that we are not subjecting ourselves to the desires and temptations of this life, which cause us to sin. But we are led by the Holy Spirit; which is the Spirit of the Lord who anoints, convicts, and leads in truth.
Spiritual Food For Thought
Shalom
Mena Lee Grebin
Faithful Walk Healing Ministries