Let’s Not Just Look the Part. Let’s Live it from the Heart
Mark 11:12–21 • Luke 6:43 • 1 Corinthians 3:12–15
Have you ever walked past a beautiful tree in spring, lush with green leaves, swaying in the breeze, and thought it looked perfect from a distance? But then, when you got close, you realized it was empty. No fruit. No nourishment. Just leaves.
That’s the picture I see in Mark 11 when Jesus approaches a fig tree full of leaves. It looked alive, but it wasn’t bearing any fruit. And Jesus, who was hungry, cursed the tree. Not because He was being harsh, but because He was making a point. A spiritual warning, hidden in a living parable.
“Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves… Then he said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat fruit from you again.’”
Mark 11:13–14 (NIV)
This story isn’t just about a tree. It’s about us. About what our lives are rooted in, and what kind of fruit we’re really bearing.
The Danger of Looking Alive Without Being Alive
The fig tree had the appearance of life. From a distance, it looked like it was thriving. But up close, Jesus found nothing of substance. Just show. Just performance. No fruit.
How many of us, myself included, have gone through seasons like that? We go to church, we post a Bible verse on Instagram, we say all the right things. But if someone looked closer, would they find the fruit of the Spirit in our lives? Would they see love, joy, patience? Or just busyness, surface-level routine, and spiritual autopilot?
Jesus calls this out again in Luke 6.
“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit… Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.”
Luke 6:43–44
It’s simple. The kind of tree we are determines the kind of fruit we produce. We can’t fake fruit forever. Eventually, what’s in the root shows up in the fruit.
The Quiet Sins That Keep Us Fruitless
Sometimes, the most dangerous spiritual issues aren’t the loud, obvious sins. They’re the quiet ones.
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A bitter attitude we justify
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Gossip hidden behind concern
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Jealousy we dismiss as harmless
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Being too busy for prayer, but not too busy for scrolling
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Complaining more than praising
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Going through the motions without affection for God
They’re subtle, but over time they starve our spiritual soil. We stop bearing fruit because our hearts become dry.
And even though we might still look the part on the outside, Jesus sees the truth up close. He knows when a tree is barren.
The Warning in 1 Corinthians: Fire Will Test It All
This is where it gets even more sobering, but also powerfully clarifying.
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul writes that our lives will be tested with fire. Everything we build, everything we produce, fruit or not, will be revealed.
“If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.
It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.
If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward.
If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.”
1 Corinthians 3:12–15
Now think back to that fig tree.
It had leaves. It had the appearance of something that should be fruitful. But it was empty. Imagine if that tree were set on fire. What would remain?
Leaves burn quickly. Wood burns quickly. And Paul says the same is true of our lives. If we’ve been building with shallow materials, outward works, religious appearances, unrepentant hearts, they’ll be burned up.
We may still be saved, but as one barely escaping, with nothing to offer the Lord in return.
That is not meant to scare us. It is meant to wake us up. Because we are not just called to survive the fire. We are called to build with gold. We are called to bear fruit that lasts.
What Kind of Fruit Are You Bearing?
Jesus says we will be known by our fruit (Matthew 7:16). So if we want to know whether our lives are really surrendered to Him, we can ask:
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Is there love in how I treat others?
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Am I growing in patience and kindness?
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Do I find joy in God’s Word?
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Do I hunger for holiness, or am I just coasting?
Because, as Luke 6 reminds us, a good tree produces good fruit. And we can’t fake fruit. We can only produce it if we’re truly rooted in Him.
“But Lord, Didn’t I Do All The Things?”
One of the most heartbreaking passages in all of Scripture is when Jesus says:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven… Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, did we not prophesy… perform miracles…?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me.’”
—Matthew 7:21–23
These were people who believed they were saved. They did religious things. But Jesus said, I never knew you.
Not “You messed up too many times.”
Not “You didn’t work hard enough.”
But “I never knew you.”
Relationship is the key. Not performance. Not appearances. Intimacy with Jesus is what saves us. And it’s what sustains us.
But I Believe in Jesus. Isn’t That Enough?
Yes, belief is the foundation. But belief alone isn’t saving faith. Even the demons believe in Jesus.
“You believe that there is one God. Good. Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”
—James 2:19
When Jesus walked the earth, demons often cried out:
“I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” —Luke 4:34
“You are the Son of God.” —Mark 3:11
They believed, but they weren’t surrendered.
And neither will we be truly saved unless our belief leads to surrender.
What True Salvation Looks Like
Salvation isn’t just saying a prayer once. It’s a life-altering surrender to Jesus as Lord.
It looks like:
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A new heart – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
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Daily surrender – “Take up your cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
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Spirit-filled living – “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” (Romans 8:9)
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Ongoing repentance – “Repent… so that times of refreshing may come.” (Acts 3:19)
It’s not about perfection. It’s about direction. Are we moving toward Jesus, or away?
When You’re in a Busy Season
Now hear me gently, friend.
If you're in a hard or full season, if you haven’t prayed like you used to, if quiet time feels rushed or rare, I want you to know this. God sees you. He knows your heart. He knows your schedule.
Don’t let guilt keep you from coming close. Time with God is not about quantity. It’s about quality.
Here are a few grace-filled ideas for connecting with Jesus right where you are:
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Stay-at-home mom: Pray while you rock the baby. Listen to worship while you clean. Keep Scripture cards around the house.
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Working woman: Use your commute for worship or prayer. Take five minutes during lunch to sit quietly with God.
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Overwhelmed woman: Breathe His name when your thoughts spiral. Trade one TV show for ten minutes of stillness with Jesus.
He is not asking for hours. He is asking for your heart.
A Gentle But Urgent Warning
I say this not out of judgment, but deep concern. Don’t be deceived. Don’t assume that a childhood prayer or occasional church visit means your heart is right with God.
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith.”
—2 Corinthians 13:5
“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”
—Galatians 6:7
Don’t be a tree full of leaves. Be a tree full of life.
It’s Not Too Late
If the Holy Spirit is tugging on your heart, that is His mercy. That is His invitation.
You can start again today. You can lay down the wood and straw and begin building with gold. You can stop pretending and start bearing real fruit. You can trade shallow belief for deep relationship.
And if someone you love might be asleep to the truth, share this with them. Please. Eternity is too long to stay silent.
Lord Jesus,
I don’t want to be a tree full of leaves and no fruit. I don’t want to build a life that burns up in the fire.
I want to know You and be known by You.
Show me what I’ve built with straw. Show me the places where I’ve looked alive but been dry inside.
Forgive me for the quiet sins, for the distractions, for the times I’ve gone through the motions instead of drawing close to You.
Thank You for Your patience and mercy. I give You my heart again today.
Teach me to abide. Help me to bear lasting fruit. Let my life stand when it’s tested with fire.
And for the ones I love, stir their hearts. Wake them up. Lead them home.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
If this stirred your heart, will you share it with someone who needs to hear it too?
One small message could lead to one big eternal change.
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This really tugged at my heart, I know I do things wrong every day, but I want to be a light in this dark world, but fear grips me sometimes, no matter how hard or how much I pray. Please pray for me.