I admit, as before, that this statement often seems to be contradicted,
both by the good works of godless men, and by the bad works of godly
ones. But for all that, I would urge you to consider that the only
works of men worth calling 'fruit,' if regard is had to their
capacities, relations, and obligations, are those done as the outcome
and consequence of hearts trusting in the Lord. The rest of the man's
activities may be busy and multiplied, and, from the point of view of a
godless morality, many may be fair and good; but if we think of him as
being destined, as his chief end, 'to glorify God, and (so) to enjoy
Him for ever,' what correspondence between such a creature and acts
that are done without reference to God can there ever be? They are not
worth calling 'fruit.' At the most they are 'wild grapes,' and there
comes a time when they will be tested and the axe laid to the root of
the trees, and these imperfect deeds will shrivel up and disappear.
Trust will certainly be fruitful. In so saying we are upon Christian
ground, which declares that the outcome of faith is conduct in
conformity with the will of Him in whom we trust, and that the
productive principle of all good in man is confidence in God manifest
to us in Jesus Christ.
So we have not to begin with work; we have to begin with character.
'Make the tree good,' and its fruit will be good. Faith will give power
to bring forth such fruit; and faith will set agoing the motive of love
which will produce it. Thus, dear brethren, we come back to this--the
prime thing about a man is the direction which his trust takes. Is it
to God? Then the tree is good; and its fruit will be good too. If you
will trust yourselves to 'God manifest in the flesh,' to Jesus Christ
and His work for you and in you, then you will be as if 'planted by the
rivers of water,' you will be able to receive into yourselves, and will
receive, all good, and be masters of all evil, will exhibit graces of
character else impossible, and will bring forth 'fruit that shall
remain.' Separated from Him we are nothing, and can bring forth nothing
that will stand the light of that last moment.
Brother, turn your trust to that dear Lord, and then you will have your
'fruit unto holiness, and the end shall be everlasting life,' when the
transplanting season comes, and they that have been 'planted in the
house of the Lord' below shall 'flourish in the courts of our God'
above, and grow more green and fruitful, beside the 'river of the water
of life that proceedeth from the throne of God and of the Lamb.'