10 “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

The tenor of John the Baptist’s thundering tirade makes not for good Sunday School reading. To be sure, modern (or should I say post-modern) sentiments recoil at such a negative message. Is not the good news supposed to be about love and kindness, grace and meekness? Yes, but here is the rub: Grace, love, kindness and meekness turn up shallow if hearts are not prepared. Such things become nothing more than sentimentalism and feeling, temporary and not at all life-sustaining, certainly lacking in any kind of material power.

The extent of grace’s significance is directly proportional to our ability to live fruitful lives. In today’s mindset, unfortunately, grace is nothing more than a human characteristic, noble as it may be, extended to worthy objects. But in God’s estimation, and the estimation of Christians who understand the meaning of Jeremiah 17:9 (“the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it?”), grace is a hundred times greater.

John is of the same mind as Jeremiah—there is a serious flaw in all of us. Judgment is not based on a person’s words, but on his actions. But John takes it further; if there is no good fruit, the tree is to be destroyed. If there is not enough fruit of good works in a person’s life, John proclaims, then that person is to be spiritually destroyed! Therefore, since this truth seems to be universally embraced in all religions to at least some degree, humans work hard to produce good fruit through their works to secure salvation for themselves (however that may be defined in their religious system).

Does this mean that there are some who can be good enough to attain a favorable eternity? Not at all! Everyone is called to repentance and confession, for “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Christ separates out those who are not sinners and those who are. Christ Himself is the lone Occupant of the one side, and all of us are on the other. There are none who can fool the One who will baptize with the “Holy Spirit and fire.”

Lord, though I strive to be salt and light in the world, so to be fruitful, I do it not to gain Your approval, least of all to pad my qualifications for eternal security. Rather, I live so as to please you and glorify Your Son.