Fruitful Christians in the Day of Harvest

A number of years ago, my family and I planted nine hundred and fifty apple trees on our farm in middle Tennessee. Those spindly little saplings eventually produced thousands of bushels of apples per year. Over the years, we learned what to do, and what not to do to produce good fruit. In the same manner that I had to work the soil, plant the trees, fertilize, prune, spray and perform the multitude of tasks necessary to produce good apples; God has to complete similar tasks in us. He is the husbandman, the grower of the fruit. Over the years, I have learned many principles about growth and fruit production. The purpose of this book is to apply those principles of apple production to the process God uses to produce quality fruit in us. What is there about a beautiful red or golden ripe apple hanging on a tree that begs you to reach out and pick it? There is no question that you are seeing the reason for the existence of the apple tree. Apple trees make poor shade trees and are too gnarled and crooked for timber. The only purpose for an apple tree is to produce apples. What is the purpose of a Christian? Why are we on this earth? The answer is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 15, vs. 16 which says, "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain." The purpose of a Christian like that of the apple tree is to bear fruit for God. Verse 8 of that same chapter of John says, "By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples." God wants us to bear fruit, and He is glorified when we do. What a waste it is for a tree to spend years growing to maturity, drinking up the water and nutrients from the soil and taking up valuable space, and then produce no fruit. How much more of a waste it is for a man or woman to be born into the Kingdom of God, grow to maturity, be fed spiritual food, take their place in the church, and yet miss the very purpose for whi