Friends, what do the Words of Jesus spoken to a crowd of many thousands of Jews 2000 plus years ago have to do with us today?
Simply put…, “The Word of God is the same yesterday today and forever” (Heb.13:8 NIV).
That is a basic Biblical truth. As such, it makes what Jesus said to that crowd relevant to us also, stated differently… “Heaven and the earth will pass away, but My words will certainly not pass away.” (Mark 13:31 BLB).
I am laying this foundational truth in preparation for our text today which falls under the sub-heading of, “Repent or Perish” (Lu. 13:6-9 NIV). That statement, however unpopular in our current culture, is and will always remain Truth, believe it or not.
Beginning in Chapter 12 of Luke we witness Jesus revealing Truths that will lead us directly into our Scripture. Come along as Jesus teaches these core Truths to those seeking to follow after Him. Notice that He clearly lays out the costs of following Him, as disciples (Lu.14:28 NLT), as well as the promises or gains that being a true disciple afford to those willing to lay-down their life and take up their Cross (1 Cor. 15:52 KJV).
Jesus asks not only his disciples and those standing in that mob of people gathered then, but each of us today, these questions among others:
#1. What motivates you to want to follow Me? To serve Me?…
Are you, like the Pharisees, motivated by the attention and material gain that often accompany those who have taken up the profession of preaching or teaching? Notice I said, taken up, not all those who stand in our pulpits today or call themselves preachers, ministers, and teachers have been called or appointed by God. How do I know this…? Again, Scripture tells us. “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water” (Jas 3:11 ESV). Put another way the Bible tells us “You will recognize them by their fruit.” Anyone can do anything for a time, but no one can do it for a lifetime unless it is authentic, a calling. (Jer.20:9 NASB).
Unless your heart be consumed with the LORDSHIP of Jesus Christ and not only the benefits of salvation in Him, you will be apt to fall away. You’re a counterfeit and when tried, you will be found out. Again, not my words but The Word. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'”(Matt. 7:21-23 NLT).
Do you know Jesus as Lord of your life, or do you recognize Him as Savior alone? The difference in that knowledge is life or death. You must do the will of the Father.
#2. You’re not getting away with anything…! 
Tying into the above statement, we may think that we are getting away with something… Example, we go to church, read our Bibles faithfully, give our tithes regularly and practice charity just like those mentioned in the above Scripture. These were believers who recognized Jesus as Lord but did not do the will of the Father. But in private, in our secret place, away from the eyes of onlookers, we are acting as ungodly as one who is living outside of God! Shame the devil and tell the Truth! I know I have been guilty of this very sin in my walk with the Lord. Thinking that because man didn’t know of my sin, I was okay, I got away with something! Let me share with you the Truth the Holy One hit me with… “No creature can hide from him, but everyone is exposed and helpless before the eyes of the one to whom we must give a word of explanation” (Heb.4:3 ISV).
God is Holy and cannot look upon sin. “This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness. We are not living in the truth. But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts” (1 Jn 1:5-10 NIV).
#3. Fear the One who cannot only kill the body, but moreover, the One whom when the body is dead can send you to hell.
Jesus was very forthright with those who wanted to run after Him concerning the cost they would pay to have right relationship with Him. Notice I did not say to have salvation alone, but, right relationship. Jesus MUST be not only Savior but our all in all. The only LORD and MASTER over our lives. We must be completely submitted to His will and abandoned our own, this in full recognition of the ultimate price He paid to redeem us (John 3:16 ESV)!
And lastly, #4. Do not Blaspheme the Holy Spirit. 
The Holy One comes to us in a very thoughtful and gracious manner, never rude or intrusive. Repeatedly, He will knock at the door of our hearts requesting entry. Offering us knowledge of Christ and reconciliation through Him with the Father. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit occurs when we hardheartedly refuse to acknowledge His gracious offer of a life reconciled to God. Jesus tells us that we may sin against Him and be forgiven, but sinning against the Holy Spirit is unforgivable (Matt. 12:32 NIV)!
And why is that?
Because we are repeatedly choosing lawless...After being given opportunities to choose God, we willingly continue in our sins and rebellion and choose to stay opposed to Him. Again, let’s hold this up to our previous Scripture for clarity, “And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’” (Matt.7:23 ESV).
In closing, stand with me at the entrance of a lush vineyard. Let’s listen to its owner and manager discussing the outcome of a certain fig tree. Listen as the owner of the vineyard is telling his manager to… cut the thing down, it’s worthless! Throw it in the fire! It’s simply taking up the ground space of something else that once planted, will produce fruit…It’s been three years since it was planted and everyone knows if a fig tree is going to produce fruit, it typically happens within the first three seasons. Burn it!
This tree has been well-tended, planted in the riches of soils, watered regularly, and tended with the greatest of care and attention. But nada! Not one single fig…
The owner wants to use it for firewood, but the manager intercedes on its behalf. He has grown to love the little tree and does not want to see its potential ended.
The vineyard owner? God the Father.
The manager, Jesus Christ.
The little fig tree? He who holds anything back from the LORDSHIP of Christ.
Again, don’t take my word for this, let’s look to Scripture for examples. In Acts we have Ananias and Sapphira who thought they could cheat God out of what they freely agreed to give Him (Acts 5:1-11 NKJV)! Remember God does not force us to follow Him, we have free will! And perhaps the best known example of all, Judas Iscariot. Who betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver because Jesus was not doing things the way Judas had expected them to be done (Lu.22:3-6 NASB).
But if we say yes… then it must be a resounding YES! A 100% yes! A No holds barred even when I hate it… yes! Even when it hurts… yes!
If we live for God and are the light in this world we cannot remain the same. We must bear the fruit of change. We cannot be like the rich young ruler spoken of in Luke 18. Claiming he had followed the laws since youth and now wanted to know what the next step was in achieving eternal life. Jesus tells Him that he has to sell all that he has and give his money to the poor. Only then could he pick up his cross and follow Jesus and gain eternal life. He had not counted the cost Remember Luke 14:28!
Will you give Him your all today? 
Jesus is returning, believe it or not. If you hear Him knocking on the door of your heart today, RUN to answer it! Time is growing short and no man is promised tomorrow…I’ll turn back here until next we meet leaving you with the Word of Life. Until then, God Bless you and may the Lord keep you…
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned.… (Jn.15:4-6- NKJV).
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