Spoiled Fruit?

²¹What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. ²²But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. ²³For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

-Romans 6:21-23 (KJV)

I've been writing on the topic of sin for quite some time now. Sin is so important, yet it's barely talked about now. We've become accustomed to "feel good" messages coming from the pulpits of America, that many no longer want to hear anything that will challenge them. Friends, I like to be challenged. I like to know how to do something better. I'm not satisfied with the "feel good" messages coming out from America's churches. I want to be challenged. Challenged to live the way Jesus wants us to live. I asked this question a few weeks ago, and I think it begs to be asked again. Did Jesus die on the cross, and rise from the dead 3 days later only for you or I to pray a prayer of salvation, then continue living our lives of sin? No, He didn't. We shouldn't be satisfied with a continual living in sin. 

In Romans 6:21-23, Paul is challenging his readers about the way they live their lives. Verse 21 says, "What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death." Paul asks an important question. For the believer, one who has put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus, what was the product of your life before Christ. What benefits had you had? Paul refers to those things as things we are now ashamed of. I read a story one time that told of a man who had died and went to heaven. As he entered Heaven, an angel took him to a room full of file cabinets. The angel went to a specific cabinet drawer and pulled out this mans file. The angel told him that this was the file of his life, and he would allow him to look at it before it was read aloud. The angel handed him the file and then left the room. The man was reviewing his life, and was embarrassed by what he was reading. Every sin, every careless thought, every deliberate sinful act was recorded there. He was crying as he thought of what people would think of him if they only knew. After a few minutes, Jesus came into the room and took the folder. The man begged and pleaded with Jesus not to read it aloud. But, on each page, Jesus stamped "Forgiven." There was nothing to read. How would you react if the story of your life was read aloud for all to hear? Ashamed? Paul says the end of those things, then end of sin is death. Look at verse 23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." The payment, or the wages, of our life of sin is death. A spiritual death, and a physical death. But, God has a gift. That gift is His Son, Jesus Christ. Through Him, you can have eternal life. 

Look at what Paul says in verse 22, "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life." Now that you've accepted Jesus, have accepted the gift of God, you are free from sin and became a servant of God. Paul then goes back to his fruit illustration, or the product of your life. If you and I could not bear good fruit in our lives before Christ, we can (and will) bear good fruit through Jesus. The fruit of our lives before Christ leads to death. The fruit of our lives after Christ is holiness and the end is everlasting life. This good fruit, though, only comes as we grow in our lives and walk with Jesus. If you've prayed and asked for forgiveness, then continue living in sin, you shouldn't expect the good fruit of holiness to grow. Are you growing in your walk with and life in Jesus? Think About It.