7: The he said to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8: Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." For I say to you that God is able to raise up chidlren to Abraham from these stones.
9: And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."
You can go through the motions, say the standard prayer, go to church, be baptized, do good things, but that does not make you a tree which bears good fruit. Just knowing who God is, does not buy you a ticket to heaven. You have to search for Him. You have to build and maintain a personal relationship with Him. Doing good for others simply to be recognized for it, is not of good fruit. Works alone also do not buy you a ticket into heaven. If the personal relationship with Him is not there, nor is there a place for you in heaven. The ax, being laid to the root of the trees is an example of the "clearing out" that God will do to make sure His kingdom is pure. If one is worried more about self and the earthly, then you will be a tree cut down and thrown into the fire. Is that a risk you are willing to take?
This thought by, Johnna Robleado
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