LIVING ON BORROWED TIME (3): THE AWESOME PATIENCE OF GOD

(Luke 13:6-9)
October 4, 2015
Read Lu 13:6-9 -- American writer John Gardner once wrote, The reason
you cant teach an old dog new tricks is that he is quite content with his
mastery of the old tricks, and thinks that learning new tricks is strictly for
puppies. Besides, he is busy paying off the mortgage on the dog house.
That is a very apt description of Jesus world and ours! Busy with routine;
no time for the big questions of life. So God warns Rom 2:4: Or do you
presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not
knowing that Gods kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? That means
everyone, kids included. Since weve come to Eaton more than doz kids
killed. You and I are alive thru Gods kindness. But we must not mistake
patience for approval! This parable, ending a sermon that started in 12:1,
teaches its a grave error to take His patience for granted. His point is twofold.
Repentance is imperative. And the opportunity is limited.
I.

The Parable

A farmer plants a fig tree a vineyard managed by a vinedresser. Lev 19:23-25

forbade taking fruit the 1st 3 years [buds would be pinched off to allow the tree
to mature]. Fruit in the 4th year was an offering to God. Then, Lev 19: 25 But in
the fifth year you may eat of its fruit. Thus, by law, the owner would not have
expected fruit for himself until the 5th year. And now hes been 3 years seeking
fruit to no avail. Thus he has 7 fruitless years invested in this tree. No wonder
he is saying, Cut it down! Its had ample opportunity to produce. BUT the
vinedresser wants to nurture the tree for one more try. Then if there is no fruit,
he agrees it has to go!. Simple parable, illustrating the patience of the owner
and the extended but limited opportunity provided.
II.

The Interpretation

This parable has two levels of interpretation -- one national and one personal.
The owner is God the Father. The vinedresser is Jesus. And the fruitless fig
tree is the nation of Israel, OR any individual. The fruitless tree is in danger
of being cut down taken away, removed and destroyed in judgment.
The key element is fruit, right? The tree must produce or go! And its not. So
what fruit is God seeking in the nation and in individuals? What would make
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the nation or an individual acceptable to the Father? What fruit? Well, we

dont have to look far. V. 3, No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all
likewise perish. And v. 5: No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all
likewise perish. Same exact words spoken twice for emphasis.
John the Baptist addressed the Pharisees and Sadducees who came out of
curiosity in Mt 3:8, You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
wrath to come? 8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. Note, the fruit of
repentance leads to other fruits that are in keeping with repentance. What is
that about? It is about a changed life. What does it mean to repent? The word
means to turn around. I was going toward CA and now I turn and head to NY.
I was serving self; now I am serving God. I was obeying my own desires and
now I am obeying Gods desires. That is fruit in keeping with repentance.
True repentance always brings about change. When John said Bear fruit in
keeping with repentance the people asked what would that LOOK like? What
shall we do? And Johns response in Lu 4:9 ff. is to the people in general
share your clothing and food; to the tax collectors, dont cheat; and to the
soldiers, dont extort money and make false accusations for profit. In other
words when repentance happens, behavior changes.
Paul teaches that in Eph 2:8-10: For by grace you have been saved through
faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of
works, so that no one may boast. [Works contribute nothing to salvation! But
look! After salvation, nothing but works.]10 For we are his workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that
we should walk in them. This is the fruit the Father is seeking repentance,
followed by a life change that shows it to be valid. Were not saved just to
avoid hell and go to heaven. Were saved to walk in good works; and if they
are lacking, so is salvation! This is NT gospel! Paul Paul told King Agrippa
in Acts 26:20 that every place he preached that they should repent and turn to
God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.
In his book about the Jesus people of the late 60s, Gods Forever People,
Larry Eskridge tells of one young man from Anderson, Indiana who came to
Christ at a coffee shop Gerrys Place. He later testified, My life before I
found Jesus was a real bummer. I was doing a lot of dope, booze and had
low morals. My idea of a good weekend was a hit of acid, a good-looking
chick, and all the booze I could hold. But since then I have died and been
reborn. . . . [Im] free! Thats fruit in keeping with repentance, Beloved.
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In the parable, the owner has been seeking fruit for 3 years -- symbolic (this is
a parable after all) of the whole history of Israel which was one of almost
uninterrupted fruitlessness. Hos 9:10: Like grapes in the wilderness, I found
Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season. Jer 8:13, When I
would gather them, declares the LORD, there are no grapes on the vine, nor
figs on the fig tree. No fruit. And no fruit = no repentance!
So the Father rightfully says, Cut them down. He could say the same of
unrepentant individuals: Cut them down! He would be perfectly justified.
They have squandered all their opportunity. BUT Jesus steps in. He asks for 1
more year extended opportunity for them to hear and respond to the Word -a second chance. This doesnt mean Jesus and the Father are at odds on
this. The Father is as willing to give as Jesus is to ask. Mercy is at the heart of
both. This is an illustration of II Pet 3:9, The Lord is not slow to fulfill his
promise [promise of judgment] as some count slowness, but is patient toward
you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
The heart of God is reflected in this parable. He let Israel live and He lets us
live on borrowed time -- kindness intended to lead to repentance. Thats the
interpretation of the parable. Now what about the application. Three points.
III.

The Application
A. Gods Patience is Passionate

Do you see it in the parable? The tree has been given every opportunity. Three
long years after it should have produced, it is still fruitless. It has been on
borrowed time for a LONG time. And yet the caretaker wants to give it one
more chance. Thats Gods love, Beloved. Rom 5:8, But God shows his love
for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. It cost Him
everything to provide the possibility for us to repent and bear fruit. And now,
He willingly extends the time the opportunity. Why? Because He loves us.
The greatest news ever: John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life. God loves you. Whatever the rest of the world may think, God loves you
more than youll ever know. And He loves me. Not because we are loveable!
Were not. The sin in our hearts would cast us from His presence forever. We
are not loveable. But God does not love for what He sees finds in us; God
loves for what He finds in Himself! God loves for what He finds in Himself,
and so He extends opportunity after opportunity for us to turn to Him.
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If you dont believe Jesus loves you, you havent been to the cross and you
havent seen your eternal destiny hangs by a thread that He alone sustains.
The night Abe Lincoln was killed, they emptied his wallet and found a Confed
$5 bill. Why would he carry that? As a symbol of his love for and desire for
the rebellious half of his family. He wanted them back. Just like Jesus wants
you back, dear friend. He loves you passionately and He wants you back.
B. Gods Patience is Purposeful
Why does the caretaker ask for one more year? Why? So that the tree can
continue on in its self-centered existence? So that it can live out its full 80-100
years life span fruitless!? Is that what He is after? I dont think so. Hes
giving opportunity one last chance to produce fruit. If we think God has left
us here for our own enjoyment, we must think again. We must. Thats not it!
Hes giving opportunity to bear fruit in keeping with repentance. If you
think you have life this morning for any other purpose, you must think again.
If you have never come to Christ and thrown yourself on His mercy, you have
missed His purpose for you. You will eventually be cut down, separated from
God for all eternity. You may have a great now, but you will have a
horrendous forever. Hes giving life with the intention that you turn to Him.
And if you are a believer, He is looking for continued fruit. Youre not here to
satisfy your own desires and pursue your own ends. Thats a huge
misconception. Thats a fruitless existence and may indicate that you are not
saved at all. R. C. Sproul tells of an unmarried couple in his church who were
living together and selling drugs. When the church found out and confronted
them, the young man said, Hey, dont worry about me. Ive accepted Christ.
Im just a carnal Christian. Ill be all right. Really? Thats what youre
going to tell Jesus? Then Hes going to tell you that you are no Christian at
all. True believers obey. John 15:4: Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless
you abide in me. Theyre not perfect, but their heart is toward God, and they
are producing fruit in keeping with repentance. Thats the point of Gods
patience. Not to allow us to pursue pleasure or live out a fruitless 80 years -but that we might live a life of repentance and fruitfulness.
C. Gods Patience is Passing
Owner says, Okay 1 more year. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next
year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down. Opportunity will
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not last forever. The clock is ticking. Things will not stay the
same forever. Judgment is coming. Gods patience is
awesome far beyond anything we could expect, but it is
not infinite. It cannot be. Sooner or later He must deal with
the violations to His character or quit being God. Judgment
must and will come.
Israel had its opportunity. Rather than repent they crucified
their Messiah. They refused Him and judgment fell. Jesus had
prophesied it in Lu 19:43, For the days will come upon you, when
your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem
you in on every side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children
within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because
you did not know the time of your visitation. Forty years later in AD 70 the
Romans were fed up. They laid siege to Jerusalem. Food supplies
got so low that people resorted to cannibalism. When the
Romans finally got in they burned Herods beautiful temple. As
the gold melted it ran down between the stones. The Romans
dug them up to get the gold. They lie in a great pile at the
bottom of the temple wall today not one stone left upon
another. When God says cut it down, Beloved, it comes
down. Judgment falls. You will not be the first to escape.
And just as the nation fell, so will any individual who does not
produce fruit in keeping with repentance. Its a matter of
when, not if. And notice this verse has two if clauses. They
are significant. In English, if means if maybe yes, maybe no.
But Greek has 4 ways to say if driven by degree of
probability. The first clause -- if it should bear fruit next year is a
3rd class condition, indicating a lot of doubt. If it happens, and I assume it
wont. But the last clause, but if not is a 1st class condition. It assumes the
thing wont happen. Jesus is saying those who have heard the message over
and over, and still have not repented probably never will. He is buying time,
but He is not optimistic. The principle is every time someone rejects Christ, it
gets a little easier to reject Him the next time, and the next and the next.
Putting it off increases the odds that it will never happen. The point is, itll
never be easier than now. And you never know when it will be the last time.
God is under no obligation to keep on fertilizing your heart. Nows the time to
put aside whatever is keeping you away. A year from now may be too late.
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When you are ready, He may be gone. There is only one time to respond to
the call of God and that is now. John the Baptist warned, Even now the axe is
laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is
cut down and thrown into the fire (Lu 3:9). Judgment came for Israel and it
will come for you. You will not be the first to escape the hand of God.
Conc -- Now, note in closing that the Lord does not state whether this fig tree
ever bore fruit. Why? That answer is up to you. God loves you more than you
could ever imagine. Thats true. And you see it here. He does not delay
judgment because of any good found in you or me. The mediator is pleading
for you. He loves you enough to wait. But Gods patience is severely
misjudged by our generation. People completely misinterpret His delay! R.
C. Sproul says they see Him as some sort of stubble, a wisp of straw, or little
drop of cold water. . . . To the world God seems to be nothing but a sleepy,
yawning fellow, or a deceived husband who allows another man sleep with
his wife and acts as if he did not see it.
But there is another side to God. He loves you enough to wait. But He hates
sin enough to judge it. That is the other side of God. Heb 10:29: for our God
is a consuming fire. That is the other side of God the side that must judge
unrepented sin. He is like the frontier hanging judge who is your best friend if
you have clean hands but who is your worst nightmare if you are guilty. He is
a consuming fire, so the time to repent is now. Now is all you have. And every
time you say, Later to Christ, it gets that much harder to say, Yes.
An old preacher, Clarence Macartney told of growing up near the steel mills in
PA. He could picture the streams of molten metal coming out of the furnaces,
writhing and twisting like they were being tortured. Attendants with great
tongs in their hands waited to receive the metal and pour it into molds. But if
the metal cooled below a certain temperature, it refused the mold. It was too
late. Macartney said life is like that. In a tender moment we are nearly there,
but if the moment passes, the hardening process begins; a fixed state of
rebellion ensures, and the fruit of repentance is long past. The time is now.
Eternity is coming fast. You are already on borrowed time. Rom 2:4: Or do
you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not
knowing that Gods kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Interviewed in the hospital a couple of days after President Kennedy was
assassinated, TX governor John Connolly, said this: Here we were, two
relatively young men riding with two of the most beautiful wives in this
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country. The president and Jackie were happy. . . . And then in the space of
seconds it is unbelievable how an incident can happen that changed all of
our lives. Were all on borrowed time. The question is what will we do with
it. Produce fruit in keeping with repentance, or ignore the warning signs until
God says, Cut it down. Lets produce fruit! Lets pray.