November 21, 1895

“After that Thou Shalt Cut it Down”

EGW

Christ spoke a parable to convey to the people a truth which would ever be remembered. He said: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none; cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it; and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.” For three years Christ had carefully sought for fruit among the Jewish people. Rich opportunities and privileges had been granted them. For three years and a half Christ had tabernacled among men. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” He was as the shadow of a great rock in a desert land, where no water is. He constantly refreshed humanity by opening to men the cool streams of the brook flowing from Lebanon. He was ever seeking to refresh his vineyard. He sought to leave his imprint upon the hearts and characters of his followers. He identified his interest with that of fallen humanity. Their weakness was his weakness. Their necessity was his necessity. As a humble suppliant who sought divine strength from the hand of his Father, he took the attitude of petitioner, that he himself might be invigorated and refreshed by converse with God.ST November 21, 1895, par. 1

Christ took upon himself human nature, but daily he linked it with the divine nature. He devoted whole nights to prayer, leaving an example for all humanity; for as he relied upon God, the Source of all strength, so are we to be invigorated and refreshed, to be strengthened for duty and braced for trial, through communion with God.ST November 21, 1895, par. 2

Christ labored for his vineyard. The Prince of heaven, he was yet the intercessor for man, and he had power with God, and prevailed for himself and for his people. Morning by morning he communicated with his Father in heaven, receiving from him daily a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Lord awakened him from his slumbers in the early hours of the new day, that his soul and his lips might be anointed with grace which he should impart to others. His words were given him fresh from the heavenly courts, words that he might speak in season to those that were weary and oppressed. Of Christ we read, “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know to speak a word in season to him that is weary; he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”ST November 21, 1895, par. 3

The Son of God, having humanity upon him, lived in our world as a human agent. He passed over the ground which man must travel. He supplicated for suffering humanity till his humanity was charged with a heavenly current that should connect humanity with divinity. He uttered supplications for a people over whom the prince of darkness was striving for mastery. He healed the sick, relieved the suffering and oppressed, consoled the bereaved, and restored the backslider, seeking and saving that which was lost. Christ worked for his vineyard, speaking words in season. But what an ominous sentence is this—“And if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down”! Our Saviour was calling the Jewish nation to repentance. To them he said, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” In the parable of the vineyard Christ represented to them the manner in which God had dealt with them. He showed them the blessings that God had given them; for the vineyard was a symbol of the Jewish nation.ST November 21, 1895, par. 4

Well might the Jewish nation inquire, “What mean these words, And after that thou shalt cut it down.” They might have been answered, “O inhabitants of Jerusalem, this is your day of opportunity and privilege, your day of merciful visitation.” It was still time for them to know the things which belonged unto their peace. Jesus was in the midst of them, the only one who had power to save them; but their unbelief, their resistance, was bringing to them its sure results of hardness of heart and impenitence, and was filling them with stubbornness and rebellion. Jesus was diffusing light, scattering his blessings upon every hand, showering mercies upon the unthankful and the evil. His mercies were unacknowledged, and Jesus, the Light, the Way, and the Truth, was rejected. Still a brief space was theirs before the irrevocable words should be spoken. Shall the season of trial close, and after that the mandate from heaven be pronounced. “Cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?” They had fulfilled the word, “They would none of My counsel; they despised all My reproof.” They had none to blame but themselves if they perished in their sins. Jesus had said to them, “Ye will not come unto me, that ye might have life.”ST November 21, 1895, par. 5

The Lord had often punished the enemies of the Jewish nation, and had saved his people when their foes purposed to destroy them. As a mighty warrior he had raised his hand to press back the powers of darkness, working in behalf of his people in order that the Jews and that other nations might have an opportunity to see the character of God as represented in Christ Jesus. He gave them an opportunity to repent and to believe on the only-begotten Son of God. And “as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” He bore long with the Jewish nation, even when they were given up to idolatry. He saw them not as fruit-bearing trees, but as cumberers of the ground. These were not merely useless, but decided hindrances. Their religion was misleading, and wrought ruin instead of salvation.ST November 21, 1895, par. 6

But the great Teacher had undertaken the task of correcting the evil that existed in the world. He sought to break the spell which paralyzed every spiritual energy. With what authority he spoke, with what winning grace he gave his invitations, his assurances, and promises! His commands and denunciations were alike clothed in language that was elevating and uplifting. His utterances were the expression of paternal tenderness and love. In no instance did he lower the standard of the law of God. He came to show the world its value, its elevated character. He was the Desire of nations, the world's only hope, and was obedient to all the commandments of God, thus showing forth the divine character. He came to test the Jewish nation, to try them after the plan of God. If they persisted in continuing in transgression, they would miserably perish. This will be the fate of all who turn a deaf ear to the words of invitation and warning sent of God. Those who refuse to listen in this their day of test and trial, will have to meet the results of their own perversity. They may grasp eagerly for the treasures of the earth, seek its honors and pleasures, but what a scene will the judgment present when the books are opened, and every man is rewarded according as his works have been!ST November 21, 1895, par. 7

The soul's value is estimated by the cross of Calvary. The Lord appreciates the souls for whom he died, and wants them to be the subjects of his kingdom; but the god of this world blinds the perceptive powers of men so that they do not see their peril. To them Christ is saying, “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!” He is still pleading that they may understand the day of their visitation, saying, as did the gardener concerning the unfruitful tree, “Let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it, and if it bear fruit, well; and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.”ST November 21, 1895, par. 8