EVERLASTING GOOD FRUIT

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last” (John 15:16 NIV)

We all have a mission to be on for God. EVERYONE!

The missionaries in the world cannot fulfill God’s work alone.

Jesus says in the verse today, “..HE chose us…” and “HE appointed us to bear fruit that will last.”

Here Fruit is used to mean a successful, productive life. Jesus wants us to bear that which will last.

Most of what we do won’t last. I have heard it said that in 100 years from now, no one will remember how much money they made or how many cars they had or how big their home was. No one will remember most of what we did 10 years after we die. People won’t care who I rooted for, what the latest movie I saw was, or how I spent my vacations.

Jesus wants us to do things that will last. What lasts? Truth and People

I have heard this story put this way and I can imagine this as well:

ONE DAY, WE ARE IN HEAVEN, SOMEONE APPROACHES YOU…SOMEONE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN OR MET….BUT THEY SMILE AND SAY “I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU.”

THANK ME???? BUT I DON’T EVEN KNOW YOU?”

THEY SAY,…”THAT IS RIGHT” YOU DO NOT KNOW ME.

HOWEVER,………YOU HELPED IN A MINISTRY.

HOWEVER,………YOU HELPED IN A PROJECT.

HOWEVER,………YOU HELPED THRU YOUR GIVING OF TIME AND EFFORT AND $$ IN A HUMANITARIAN EFFORT AT YOUR LOCAL CHURCH—THIS MINISTRY/THIS PROJECT/ THIS EFFORT IS HOW I GOT TO GET TO KNOW GOD. I AM HERE, BECAUSE OF YOU. YOU ARE MY FOREVER FRIEND!

Now I know all things are for the glory of God but how cool is that? To think that something little ole insignificant me can do and did could start a chain of events that leads to someone being saved? We are to be constantly 24/7/365 spreading and planting the seeds of the good news of the Gospel. The story above, that is eternal…that WILL be remembered forever. Nothing is more important than the events of that scene—helping someone determine their destiny. This is fruit that outlasts all lives here on earth.

“The greatest use of your life is to invest in that which outlasts it.” WILLIAM JAMES

Invest your life in people

Invest in people that will last for eternity

Invest in fruit that will last

All can invest –EVERYONE, no matter your station in life, is on a level playing field in bearing this kind of fruit—no excuse.

OUR GREATEST CALLING IS TO USE THE GIFTS GOD GAVE US TO MAKE SURE MORE PEOPLE GO TO HEAVEN. THAT IS EVERYLASTNG GOOD FRUIT!

“Have you ever noticed how much of Christ’s life was spent doing king things?”Henry Drummond