The Barren Fig Tree

Dear brethren

Today's readings
Deuteronomy 32-34;Psalm 13; Luke 13

Luke 13:9 (KJV)
And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.

This parable is only mentioned by Luke and it seemed to be an extension of what Jesus was teaching previously about the need for repentance.
The allusion here is to the Jews. We notice that Jesus' earthly ministry as well as that of the disciples was primarily to the Jews (c.f. Mat 10:5-6) yet there seems to be much rejection (Luk 10:13-16).
Yet God is long-suffering! And God continues to be so even to us. And moreover as described in the parable, not just in terms of time but also the providence toward fruit bearing. We do not know when Christ will come again, when there will be the final "cutting down", neither do we know when we will pass on in this world. All of us have a personal timeline that God only knows. Wherefore Jesus said in Matthew 6:34 "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Not to say that Christians should not plan for the future or hope for anything to come but that on the daily basis yeah even by the moment, we need to be prepared, we need to be fruitful.
Fruit-bearing is often neglected. Besides our personal development as a Christian, we need to remind ourselves that we are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Eph 2:10). And even as we go back to the background context in the passage, we realise that that is what it means by true repentance - not just a verbal acknowledgement but a continual bearing of fruit meet for repentance.
Let us be forewarned! Be diligent in fruit bearing, lest we too be cut down as the barren fig tree on the day of reckoning.