Observe, that they overleap the ordinary rule of growth. As
I have told you, the rule is, first the fig, and afterwards
the fig leaves; but we have seen persons who make a
profession before they have produced the slightest fruit to
justify it. I like to see our young friends, when they
believe in Christ, proving their faith by holiness at home,
by godliness abroad, and then coming forward and confessing
their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That looks to be the
sober and normal way of proceeding, for a man first to be,
and then to profess to be; first to be lighted, and then to
shine; first to repent and believe, and then to confess his
repentance and his faith in the Scriptural way, by baptism
into Christ. But these people think it unnecessary to attend
to the trifle of heart-work–they dare to omit the most
vital part of the matter. They attend a revival meeting, and
they declare themselves saved, though they have not been
renewed in heart, and possess neither repentance nor faith.
They come forward to avow a mere emotion. They have nothing
better than a resolve; but they flourish it as if it were
the deed itself. Quick as thought, the convert sets up to be
a teacher. Without test or trial of his brand-new virtues,
he holds himself forth as an example to others. Now, I do
not object to the rapidity of the conversion; on the
contrary, I admire it, if it be true; but I cannot judge
till I see the fruit and evidence in the life. If the change
of conduct is distinct and true, I care not how quickly the
work is done; but we must see the change. There is a heat
which leads to fermentation, and a fermentation which breeds
sourness and corruption. O dear friends, never think you may
skip the fruit and come at once to the leaf. Be not like a
builder who should say, “It is all nonsense to spend labor
and material on works underground. Foundations are never
seen; I can run up a house in no time; four walls and a roof
will not take long.” Yes; but how long will such a house
last? Is it worthwhile building a house without foundations?
If you omit the foundation, why not omit the house
altogether? Is there not a tendency, especially in these
days, when men are either skeptical or fanatical, to
cultivate a mushroom godliness, which comes up in a night
and perishes in a night? Will it not be ruinous if
conviction of sin is slighted, repentance slurred, faith
imitated, the new birth counterfeited, and godliness
feigned? Beloved, this will never do. We must have figs
before leaves, acts before declarations, faith before
baptism, union to Christ before union with the church. You
cannot leap over the processes of nature, neither may you
omit the processes of grace, lest haply your foliage without
fruit become a curse without cure.
These people usually catch the eye of others. According to
Mark, our Lord saw this tree “afar off.” The other trees
were not in leaf, and consequently, when he began to go up
the hill toward Jerusalem, he saw this one tree quite a long
way before he reached it. A fig tree dressed in its vesture
of lovely green would be a striking object, and would be
observable at a distance. It stood, also, near the track
from Bethany to the city gate. It stood where every wayfarer
would observe it, and probably speak with wonder of its
singular leafage for the season. Persons whose religion is
false are frequently prominent, because they have not grace
enough to be modest and retiring. They seek the highest
room, aspire to office, and push themselves into leadership.
They do not walk in secret with God, they have little
concern about private godliness, and so they are all the
more eager to be seen of men. this is both their weakness
and their peril. Though least of all able to bear the wear
and tear of publicity, they are covetous for it, and are,
therefore, all the more watched. This is the evil of the
whole matter; for it makes their spiritual failure to be
known by so many, and their sin brings all the greater
dishonor upon the name of the Lord, whom they profess to
serve. Better far to be fruitless in a corner of a wood than
on the public way which leads to the temple.
Such people not only catch the eye, but they often attract
the company of good men. Who blames us for drawing near to a
tree which is in leaf long before its fellows? Is it not
right to cultivate the acquaintance of the eminently good?
Our Saviour and his disciples went up to the leafy fig tree:
not merely did it win their eye, but it drew them to itself.
Have we not been fascinated by the charming conduct of one
who seemed to be a brother in the Lord, more devout than
usual, fearing God above many? Like Jehu, he has said,
“Come, see my zeal for the Lord;” and we have been glad
enough to ride in the chariot with him: he seemed so godly,
so generous, so humble, so useful, that we looked up to him,
and wished that we were more worthy to be associated with
him. Young converts and seekers are naturally apt to do
this; and hence it is a sad calamity when their confidence
turns out to have been misplaced.
Whenever we see any standing out prominently, and making a
bold profession, what should be our thoughts about them? I
answer, do not judge them; do not fall into habitual
mistrust. Your Lord did not stand at a distance and say,
“That tree is worthless.” No, he went up to it, with his
disciples, and carefully inspected it. These prominent
persons may be wonders of divine grace: let us hope and pray
that they may be. Let the Lord and his love be magnified in
them! God has his fig trees that bear figs in winter; God
has his saints who are filled with good works when the love
of others has waxed cold. The Lord raises some up to be as
standards for the truth, rallying points in the battle. The
Lord can make young men mature, and new converts useful. It
has been said, by way of proverbial expression, that “some
men are born with beards.” The Lord can give great grace, so
as to make spiritual growth rapid and yet solid. He does
this so often that we have no right to doubt but what the
prominent brother before us is one of these growths of
grace. Unless we are forced to see with bitter regret that
there are no marks of grace, no evidences of faith, let us
hope for the best, and be glad at the sight of God’s grace.
If we are inclined to be suspicious, let us turn the point
of that sword towards our own bosoms. Self-suspicion will be
healthy; suspicion of others may be cruel. We are not
judges; and even if we are, we had better keep to our own
court, and sit on our own judgment-seat, dispensing the law
within the little kingdom of our own selves.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
