Good Fruit

Good Fruit

Hi friends,

I will come back to the Armour of God more in the future, but as I was worshipping the other day, the story of the Fall came to mind, particularly one verse that I feel is often overlooked.

‘So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.‘ Genesis 3:6

Firstly, this is a deep and consequential story, for the purpose of this encouragement the questions of blame and cause are not significant to what I hope to convey, those are questions that we can look at on another day.

What is significant in this post, is that on the outside, the fruit was good. Without the context of divine perspective, there seemed to be no good reason not to eat the fruit. After all, it would even seem a waste to not eat the fruit – and if she was looking for food at the time, it would be a failure to see good food and leave it behind. After all, God made good fruit to eat, but it seems that not all fruit that is good for food, is in fact good food for you.

On top of this, the serpent’s words – evil as they were – carried with them an element of truth that, like the fruit, seemed good to eat. There is no value in wanting to know good from evil unless one wanted to avoid evil. Eve sought good things in the tree. 

The Bible warns of despair for those who call evil good and good evil, and it seems that this is as relevant today as ever. Love is the purest thing – but many things are done in the name of love that only serves to undermine the purity of mankind at its core. We, humans, are created in the image of God – which is perfect. Without the Holy Spirit we are not only corruptible, but prone to corruption.

One good thing that I think has been corrupted today is the concept of Social Justice.

 Social Justice is a good thing to seek, it is good fruit to eat. The Parable of the Sheep and Goats weighs up those who have such fruit in their lives. But some elements of Social Justice celebrate the corruption of God’s image.

 Just because it is called good by the world, does not mean that it does not come with the burden of celebrating something that God has called evil.

But that is not who we are. Seek love at its purest – and love others the same. Love with kindness, but love what is pure. Speak truth with kindness, in wisdom and innocence.

Take a step back, however, from the things that bring corruption – or any such fruit  of the flesh. Stand steadfast in the Spirit, and know that He is the incorruptible, and the healer of all corruption. There is power in prayer, there is power in truth, and there is power in love. While our focus is on His goodness and redemption, we are agents of the same. We can, in fact, love all people: there is nobody that Jesus would turn away. 

I hope that encourages you.