Luke 13:6-9 ” Then He told this parable: A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ “

Jesus used parables often…comparing spiritual things with things found in nature.  Now for the attentive ear of the Believer, the parable gave better understanding and a deeper meaning to His message.  But to the unbeliever, it was just a story about a barren tree.  Our lives here on earth are like that fig tree, effective and producing good fruit or desolate.  So the central theme of this parable Jesus wants us to remember is…repent or perish.  “For trees not producing good fruit will be cut down.” (Matthew 3:10)