Community Chapel: Tasteless Fruit

Just the thought of having certain fruits can cause your mouth to react with anticipation of eating something juicy and sweet. The other day, while grocery shopping, I noticed a large table of beautiful nectarines, which I love. I went over to check them out, and the color and firmness were intact, with a very faint fragrance. The label indicated they were from Chile, and I felt assured that in a few days, at home in the open air, when I took my first bite, my taste buds would dance! The first bite made two points as I tossed the nectarine in the trash bag. How disappointing for your taste buds not to dance with pure delight! 

It is not the first time I have been deceived by lying fruit! It looked good, felt firm, and had a slight hint of the sweet nectar of a nectarine. I felt safe because it came from a place where the fruit would still be tasty in March. Well, another lesson learned… you can’t judge the fruit by its presentation. It had a good weight, but it didn’t burst with the aroma of sweetness! I was hoodwinked and bamboozled again! 

My desire to experience the joy of my taste buds springing into dance after biting into the nectarine outweighed my judgment! I knew that looking good, being firm, having a good weight, and having a slight hint of sweetness would never be enough.

In life, we can desire something so bad that we compromise the sound judgment that has carried us for many years, to exercise poor judgment in our selections. When we do that, it will always lead to disappointment and frustration because you know better. Failure to resist the temptation and override what you know would satisfy your flesh and ego, never ends well.  

As believers in righteousness and Jesus Christ, whom we serve, our lives are to be fruitful in sharing God’s goodness with others. John 15:16 ESV: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you.” Psalms 34:8 ESV: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!”

Let’s not be deceived by man’s adulterated, immature fruit in the market for us to consume. 

Please celebrate the Good Life with us at the Villages Community Chapel in Cribari Auditorium this Sunday at 10 a.m. to be encouraged over the Word of Life and enjoy coffee and cookies with friends. The chapel is a place for needs to be met, faith to be affirmed, and new friends to embrace. You can view our worship services on YouTube at https://www.villagescommunitychapel.vgcc.club