Inspection Time.

Very often I get sent to the grocery store to pick up a few items. Most of the time, it's contact solution, milk, bread, or Chips Ahoy, because I love Chips Ahoy. No matter when I go to the store, I will inevitably walk through the fruits and vegetables section and have a little laugh to myself. Here will stand grown men and women, systematically inspecting their potential purchase. These people will knock on watermelons, listening for some type of response; a 'who's there' to continue a punchline perhaps? People will hold cantaloupes up to their noses and smell, and by that one act can tell if it's going to be a keeper or not. People will poke avocados, push on tomatoes, and examine bananas thoroughly, right in the middle of the produce section. And, yes, we all see you sneaking grapes out of the plastic bags to test them to check and see if they are good!

This thorough testing is not something that is carried over to other experiences. When I am preaching, I am very thankful that no one pokes me, or smells me, or knocks on my head to see if I am of top quality! This is an isolated bit of strangeness that applies only to the produce section. I wonder if everyone actually knows what they are looking for when they put fruit to the test. Perhaps their mom or dad knocked on a watermelon and gave an approving look, so you in turn go through the same routine? I have no clue why some people knock on fruit - unless they are professional fruit inspectors!

In Matthew 7, I believe we are called to be fruit inspectors. Not melon knocking, avocado poking, tomato squeezing fruit inspectors, but spiritual fruit inspectors. Jesus says that you will be identified by your fruits. These words, spoken by Jesus, are very simple to comprehend on a physical level. However, He was presenting the “fruit test” as an analogy to convey spiritual truth. Just as a tree can be positively identified by the product that it yields, so is one’s true nature and character revealed by his attitude and conduct. That orange tree is gonna have some nice oranges. Only. Same for the apple tree - apples, only.

While the trees may all look similar in many respects during the non-fruit bearing season, as soon as they start producing fruit the difference is obvious. A Spirit-led person cannot bring forth evil fruit (that which is carnal or sinful). It is just as impossible as a coconut tree producing watermelons. An individual who believes himself to be “good” or “holy” or “saved” yet produces attitudes and conduct contrary to the principles of God’s Word is, in reality, a hypocrite who deceives himself.

Just as nature teaches us that a coconut tree will always produce coconuts, a Spirit-led individual will always produce the “fruit of the Spirit” which is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance (Galatians 5:22-23).On the other hand, if a professing Christian does not produce the “fruit of the Spirit” he does not actually possess what he thinks or claims.

So, inspect your fruit, because you are called to be a fruit inspector! Exhibit your genuine, authentic faith, and evaluate others, but don't knock on their foreheads - save that for the watermelons!