Am I a Fruit or a Fruit Fly?

by Fay Barlow
(Lexington,Sc 29072)

Galatians 5:19-21a; 22-23a

Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outburst of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like;….

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I’ve been reading the book of Galatians lately. A book that I’ve read many times before. Verses that I’ve read and heard many sermons preached on.

But today, the Lord Himself, taught me through these verses. The fruit of the spirit vs. the works of the flesh struck me hard. I began to memorize the fruit of the spirit and was saddened to learn that I have had none of these in my life lately. But the works of the flesh, I am full of.

Then I began to look at the words “fruit of the spirit” and “works of the flesh”. I have been working overtime on fleshly things, especially “selfish ambitions”. I have exhausted myself over these past weeks “working” on envy. I have been filled with striving as I’ve longed to please the flesh of my nature. And what a dark two weeks it has been.

But when I read about the fruit of the spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, I find I have had none of those fruits in my life. I’ve lived in the darkness of the flesh lately instead of in the brightness of the spirit.

I thought about how fruit is natural to a plant. The plant doesn’t have to strive to produce a fruit. It comes naturally. But the works of the flesh require so much striving. Especially for a believer.

And to maintain envy and self-ambition, love, joy, peace, etc, can’t be found. They have been smothered out by all the working and striving to give the flesh what it can never be satisfied with, because enough, is truly never enough. The work continues and the flesh gets darker and darker.

I would imagine that if the works of the flesh were a plant, then it would be in a garden that is overgrown and being choked out by weeds. There is no sun to bring brightness, warmth and growth to the plant, only a dark misty rain that falls continuously on the ground.

The leaves of the plant are heavy laden with mold as the branches are scarred with evidence of pest that have come to feast upon it. The garden is unkempt and lifeless.

But the fruit of the spirit is in a garden that is full of sun and full of life. Colorful flowers and trees surround the garden. The grass below is lush and green. A gentle breeze blows through the garden and carries with it the fragrance of the flowers that dance with the wind. The fruit that hangs from the trees are beautiful, ripe and ready to be picked. Their own fragrance swirls with the wind and calls others to take notice. There are no dried leaves on this tree. No evidence of pest. Only a healthy fruit tree, in a garden full of life.

And I have a choice. Which will I be? Will I live in the spirit and let the Lord create in me a delicious fruit or will I work in the flesh and allow Satan to drain me of the abundant life that is waiting to be produced in me.