“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’” – Matthew 7:21-23
Have you ever considered the difference between real fruit and fake fruit? Real fruit, in its authentic form, represents someone who has genuinely embraced salvation and forgiveness and surrendered their life to God. On the other hand, fake fruit symbolizes those who try to be good, aiming to improve themselves and make righteous choices but have not truly experienced salvation.
At first glance, fake fruit may look remarkably convincing, sometimes even more attractive than the real thing. However, the critical distinction lies beneath the surface. Real fruit can only be produced by the Holy Spirit’s work within a person’s heart. Thus, if one lacks the Holy Spirit’s presence, power, and gifts in their life, they can never sustain the appearance of genuine fruit for long.
You may succeed in deceiving friends and family, pretending to live a life filled with the Spirit’s gifts, but you will never deceive God. Why is this so crucial? The Bible emphasizes that those who bear fake fruit will ultimately fall short of Heaven.
In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus delivers a sobering message: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’”
These words serve as a reminder that appearances can be deceiving. Mere actions and outward displays of righteousness are insufficient if they are not rooted in a genuine relationship with God. It’s not enough to talk the talk; we must walk the walk by surrendering our lives to Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to produce authentic fruit within us.
As you reflect on the authenticity of your own spiritual fruit, do not forget that it is the Holy Spirit who produces genuine transformation and a Christ-like character. Seek His presence, yield to His work in your life, and let the fruit you bear be a true reflection of God’s grace within you.