This year also

 

“This year also” Luke 13.8

The title of this message comes from a parable spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ, recorded in Luke 13.6-9. He had just warned His hearers about the need for them to turn away from their sins, and of the terrible consequence of refusing to do so: they would perish, Luke 13.1-5. 

In the parable, He told of a man who had planted a fig tree in his vineyard, and who for three years had come expecting it to bear fruit, but it had failed to do so. His mind was that his vinedresser should cut the unfruitful tree down there and then, but the employee replied that he should “let it alone this year also”. This would be the last opportunity: if, with this extra time, and the best of care, it bore fruit, that would be a happy outcome; if not, then it should certainly be cut down.

The parable had a clear message to those who were listening: over a period of several years, the Lord had warned them that to escape from God’s judgment for their sins they needed to repent and put their trust in Him, the One Whom God had sent into the world to be the Saviour. So far, most had refused Him and His entreaties. Their time was running out, and there was an urgent need for them to turn and put their faith in Him.

The Lord did not tell His audience what the outcome was for the fig tree. Evidently this was to allow them to finish the story for themselves, by their own actions. They had a stark choice to make. If they accepted Him, they would be like the tree bearing fruit, which was what God was looking for, and would secure their blessing. If, on the other hand, they continued to reject Him then, like the fruitless tree, they would be ‘cut down’: “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” Luke 13.3,5.

Almost two thousand years have passed since then, and we now stand at the start of another year: 2026. If you are still in your sins, then you face the same choice. We have all sinned against God, and deserve to suffer eternal judgment. But He loved us all so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, not only to warn us of our danger, but to provide the way of salvation from it. He, the only sinless person who has ever lived, went to the cross at Calvary, where He suffered, shed His blood, bore God’s judgment for sins, and laid down His life. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3.16. 

For you to be saved, the same response is needed from you as was required from those who heard His words so many years ago: “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out” Acts 3.19; “Repent ye, and believe the gospel” Mark 1.15; “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16.31.

Perhaps this is the first time you have ever heard this wonderful message, or perhaps you have heard it many times, and have never put your trust in the One Who died to save you, rose again, and returned to Heaven. 

God has been good to you, in giving you time and opportunity to repent and trust in His Son. You have begun “this year also”, but you do not know if you will be here at the beginning of 2026. The matter is urgent, and the choice is plain: between trusting Christ and refusing Him; between salvation and damnation; between eternal life, and perishing; between Heaven and Hell. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” 2Corinthians 6.2.

Used by kind permission of Assembly Testimony

All photos courtesy of Unsplash