Our relationship with God is not something that we should put off. It is urgent that we repent and that is exactly what the passage of Scripture before us is about. It is urgent for 2 primary reasons that we see in Luke 13:1-9.
Hear the Word of God.
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." 6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
Luke 13:1-9
There are two main reasons that we should urgently repent.
Last time we looked at the first reason: our lives will end, and we really don't know how or when. The second reason that we should urgently repent is that God's Longsuffering Will End. Listen again to the parable Jesus told in verses 6-9 to illustrate his point that repentance is urgent. 6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'"
This parable is not only a picture of God's great mercy, but it also serves as a great warning to those he told it to. Vineyards were obviously very common. This man had a fig tree and it had been there a while. He came looking for fruit on it and didn't find any. He said to the gardener, "Behold." That word behold is a word that indicates surprise. This is not expected. Fig trees did really well and they particularly would do very well in vineyard soil, because vineyard soil was cared for, watered, and fertilized and cultivated. This particular fig tree had been given unique opportunities. Everything was done to make it fruitful. He came expecting to find fruit, but there was none. Then it dawned on him, this is the third year in a row that this tree has failed ot bear fruit. Three is the number of completion, so this tree was completely barren. He sais, "Three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down. Why is it even using up the ground?" This is just an expression of disgust. I mean, why does it even use up the ground. Not only was it not bearing fruit, it was taking up ground that might otherwise be productive. Cut it down.
The fate of these people (the Galileans and those in Siloam) and the message of this parable were not only meant to show the mercy of God towards sinners, but also as a warning that his hearers needed to repent now. The fig tree was a symbol of the nation of Israel. The fig tree had been planted in the most fertile place spiritually. God had sent the patriarchs, the prophets, and had given them priests. Now, he had sent them the vinedresser himself…Jesus. For three years (Jesus' ministry was 3 years in duration), He had crossed and recrossed the vineyard looking for fruit and found none. The Lord had been gracious. He had been merciful. He had been patient. Now it was time for judgment. Jesus warned them in Luke 3:9, "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." He cursed the fig tree at the end of his 3 year ministry. Israel was cursed and the Gospel was taken to the Gentiles. Rom 11:7-11 describes what happened with Israel. Paul wrote, "What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever." So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles." The Gospel was taken to the Gentiles because Israel's eyes had been blinded to its truth. Then in A.D. 70 the temple was demolished and 1000's of Jews were massacred by the Romans. Patience had been extended, but now the axe was being swung.
The fact of the matter is, God's Longsuffering will end. One thing you can be sure of….if God's judgment came upon his chosen people…the descendents of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob…the people he had invested so much in and had made covenant with…you can be sure that his judgment will not be withheld from you or me as Gentiles. We should not assume that God will give us another year, another month, another week, another day, or even another moment to repent. Romans 2:4 says, "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" The need for repentance is urgent. Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Why is it so urgent to repent? Because it is appointed unto man once to die, and after this the judgment. Your life will end and God's judgment will come.
I want to plead with you to repent today! Rentance is turning from sin. Twice in this passage Jesus says, except you repent, you will all likewise perish. However, he is not saying exactly the same thing in Greek. In verse three he uses a present imperative with continuous force. This means that the word repent carries with it the idea of a continual, daily action. Then in verse 5 he uses an aorist which denotes a single decisive action. Repentance is both a once-for-all event that shapes the whole subsequent course of the life and a day-by-day affair that keeps putting sin away. It is not something that you take care of at the altar one Sunday and then get on with your life. It is a lifestyle: Repent and keep repenting. And it is something that needs to be done now, before it is too late.
Repentance is not just confessing your sin or realizing that you are a sinner. Repentance is turning away from your sin. It is a change of life. It is a change of mind. It is turning away from your worldly affections, attitudes, and actions. The question is, when you turn away, what will you turn to? A better life? The church? Good works? NO! You must turn to Christ alone. You must embrace and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You must take up your cross and follow Him. It is urgent that you do so now. Psalm 32:6 says, "Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found; surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him." Repent while He may be found. Turn away from your sin, your flesh, and the world and turn to Christ. Pursue Him. Follow Him. Live for Him. Except you repent, you will all likewise perish.
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