Cut Off

Just south of us, in rural George County, Mississippi, is a large "you pick 'em" vegetable and fruit farm. The Eubanks family has produced crops in Mississippi for a century. Currently, they farm over 1000 acres, including over 20 types of fruits and vegetables. Someone once told me that their operation is completely streamlined and monitored by the latest technology. The farm workers are given full responsibility for a specific section of a field. Then, the workers prepare the soil, plant the crop, and harvest the produce. All of their actions are recorded in a computer data base.

At harvest time, the employees are paid based on what is produced. So, when the produce or fruit is picked, they enter a code assigned to them into a computer which indicates who gathered the produce submitted. Productive workers are rewarded for the quality and quantity of what is yielded from the field. However, if the laborer was not attentive to the plants and failed to provide fertile soil for his crop, he receives no compensation for not producing. Minimal compensation is given for inferior fruit or vegetables. Farmers make their living based on what is produced, not on what was planted.

Similarly, God is in the production business. As the supreme spiritual vinedresser, he is not satisfied with folks who are just in the Christian field. He looks at what is produced. He is interested in seeing our baskets filled with spiritual fruit.

Jesus said that Father God “cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit.” Please notice, Jesus is talking about branches that are “in” Him. So, he is referring people who claim to have a relationship with Him. Translators have translated this passage as “cuts off,” “takes away,” or “removes.” Individuals who practice a superficial relationship with God and do not live like Jesus are useless. God removes people like that so that they will not hinder the work of the Kingdom of God.

Some interpreters believe “cutting off,” in John 15:2, means a person can be “born again,” but, due to their rebellion, can fall out of a relationship with God. Then, the once “saved” person is doomed to Hell. I believe this is referring to a loss of rewards (see I Cor. 3:15) and not a loss of salvation. J. Vernon Magee once said something like, "There will be some branches in heaven that are going smell like smoke."

However, a person who lives like an unbeliever—disobeying God's will in lifestyle choices, financial stewardship, church attendance—needs to check themselves to determine if they ever truly surrendered their life to Jesus. All true branches are going to want to be productive.

Can you imagine a member of a basketball team refusing to play when the coach called her number? You could only conclude that a basketball player that does not want to score or play must hate the coach, his teammates, and/or the institution for which he plays.

Why would any true believer who has truly asked God to forgive their sins, believing Jesus died a tortuous death and came back to life, not want to live a life of dedicated service to the God of all grace. Why would they prefer to stay home when fellow Christians are meeting in worship? Why would they withhold the tithe and offerings from their church? Why would they act like an atheist or agnostic by not consulting with God or his scriptures when major decisions arise? Would a person connected to God never let anyone know they are a Christian?

Are you attached to the vine? If you answered "yes," show me your fruit.