This is the first chapter and a continuation of the serial of The Theology Of Fruitology, which we started a couple of days ago.
If you have not been following, you can catch up with us by reading The First Part Of The Introduction and The Second Part Of The Introduction Too.
If you're done reading those two, then let's jump right in!
CHAPTER ONE
WHAT IS FRUITOLOGY?
Fruitology is simply the study of fruits. We all know about the physical fruits that abound on the earth, so we need not dwell on that.
In the context of this book, fruitology refers to the study of spiritual fruits in all its ramifications.
Now, before we proceed, take a few minutes to clear your mind of every negative thought, grudges, malice, etc. And make sure you forgive anyone that has ever offended you. See yourself as a child that is still learning to walk for the first time; so you can catch a revelation in this chapter that will elevate you to greater spiritual heights.
Have you done that?
Good.
The Triumphal Entry
“On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the king of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord. And Jesus, when He had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written, fear not, daughter of Zion: behold, your king comes, sitting on an ass’s colt” (John 12:12-15).
Do you know that Jesus didn’t enter Jerusalem sitting on a young ass just to fulfill the prophecy of Zech 9:9?
What was His purpose then?
He came with a coded message!
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem was to announce to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Israel and the whole world that the time of restoration of their spiritual fruitfulness had come.
Before Jesus appeared on the scene, Israel had become spiritually barren, that is they were not bearing spiritual fruits that bring glory to God.
John the Baptist confirms it:
"Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, oh generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come! Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance and begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which brings not forth good fruit is hewn down." (Luke 3:7-9).
John used the word “viper” to qualify the multitudes that came to be baptized by him.
Do you know why?
The reason is because vipers are one of the most poisonous and fastest members of the snake family.
Another reason is that snakes generally are the favourite vessels of operation used in the marine kingdom.
Now the marine kingdom appears innocent, but they happen to be the most wicked among all the kingdoms of Satan.
So John was trying to let them know that their wickedness has reached the highest level and courageously implored them to repent and prove it also by bearing spiritual fruits that would bring glory to God.
Now the multitude that went forth to meet Jesus had spiritual eyes and spiritual ears, but they were unable to see and hear the coded message that Jesus came with, because they were spiritually blind and deaf. They even took up branches of palm trees to welcome him, but did not realize the symbolism of what they were holding.
In other words, they had the message right in their hands. The palm tree is the most fruitful tree on earth. Everything that makes up the palm tree is of economic value. The palm tree is also a survivalist, because it can survive winds that pull down or break other trees.
The ass that Jesus rode on, has been bearing fruits that bring glory to God by fulfilling its purpose of being created. Jesus was not only fulfilling prophecy, He was also telling the multitudes, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Israel and the whole world: “Look, this ass has not failed to bring glory to God. Therefore, she is qualified to carry me on this all important prophetic trip into Jerusalem, on my mission to restore you all to a place of spiritual fruitfulness”.
Now, if you were this ass, would Jesus find you worthy to carry Him today or would you disappoint Him by lying down by the roadside or throwing Him off your back?
THE UNSEEN SIDE OF THE TWO-SIDED COIN
“Say you to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.” Is 3:10.
What you just read above is saying that there is an unseen side to the spiritual fruits you bear whether good or bad.
The word “shall” implies that you will not encounter that unseen side immediately, but later on.
The book of Genesis 2:16-17 sheds more light on this issue.
“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.”
God being a God of truth presented Adam with the two sides of the same coin, giving him the opportunity to make an informed choice. One side of the coin made known to him the good fruit he was expected to bear, while the other side of the same coin made known to him the bad fruit he would have to eat if he failed to bear the expected good fruit. But here in Genesis 3:1-6, we read:
“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, yes, has God said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said to the serpent, we may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, you shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die. And the serpent said to the woman, you shall not surely die: For God does know that in the day you eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her and he did eat”.
In the above quoted scripture, Satan showed Adam and Eve only one side of the coin, (which is what they would supposedly gain by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree).
The other side of the coin He kept for himself alone, because it would not further his secret agenda to reveal it to them.
Now did they die or not?
They did.
Spiritual fruits are two-sided and progressive in nature.
Every spiritual fruit whether it is good or bad, has another spiritual fruit attached to it. This secondary spiritual fruit is not seen immediately, even though it piggybacks on the primary spiritual fruit.
Now let’s see what Jesus says about this:
“And, behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man accordingly as his work shall be”. Rev 22:12.
What reward is Jesus talking about here?
It is simply the secondary spiritual fruit that piggybacks on the primary spiritual fruit that you bear. Another word that should catch your attention in the above scripture is “work”. The work Jesus refers to is nothing but spiritual fruit.
Now assuming you had an account in a bank, and nobody including yourself deposits money into this account; if you decide one day to go to the bank or ATM to withdraw some money from this account will the bank or ATM pay you?
I don’t think so.
Let’s bring this a little bit home.
If Jesus returns to the earth as you are reading this book, and unfortunately, your heavenly bank account is reading zero Naira, Dollar, Euro or Pounds because you’ve been bearing bad spiritual fruits; from whose account do you think He will reward you?
The truth remains that when your time on earth is fully spent, however you may have spent it; all the secondary spiritual fruits attached to the primary spiritual fruits you bore will be meticulously calculated and given to you to eat all alone. And if you happen to have borne bad spiritual fruits all the while, I’m sure you would not be enjoying it in heaven but in hell.
This book is sent by God on a major rescue mission to help you make a U-turn, as majority of so called Christians will be surprised by the reward they will receive on that day.
THE PURPOSE OF REWARDS
“Every branch in me that bears not fruit He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit, He purges it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” John 15:2.
Purging a tree involves cutting off stunted twigs, dead twigs, diseased twigs, and unfruitful twigs so that all their resources they have been consuming will be redirected to the fruitful and healthy twigs, so they could bear twice or thrice the amount of fruit they are currently bearing. This is also a way to motivate the twigs that are bearing fruit. The reason why Jesus would reward everyone on earth is twofold:
1. To motivate those who are bearing good spiritual fruit, so they could continue bearing more good spiritual fruit for the whole of eternity.
2. To demotivate those who are bearing bad spiritual fruits, so they wouldn’t remain on earth to continue bearing such undesirable fruit.
Now, because there are no bad things in heaven or allowed into heaven, this demotivation is an automatic flight ticket to hell fire where those people would enjoy their reward for the whole of eternity.
Now the purpose of bearing good spiritual fruits is not for rewards per se, but a matter of spiritual duty and worship that is acceptable before God.
The Lord puts it this way:
“So likewise you, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10).
The issue of rewards is of great importance. Therefore, we will learn more about it in the last chapter of this book.
Thanks for reading. Please share and expect the chapter two in the next 24 hours.