One more chance-the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree:
Another year has gone down memory lane. A new year has come round the corner. The month of January is generally a time to look back and reflect on what we have done and what we have not done. The very name January, which is of pagan origin, is aptly named after the Roman god Janus. He was depicted as having two faces, one old and looking back and one new and looking forward. In this New Year, what are we going to do for our Lord? 

Read Luke.13: 6-9. Messiah told us a parable of a faithful servant. A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard. He came to see its’ fruit but found none. So he told his gardener to cut it down as the tree did not bear any fruit for three years. The gardener told his master to give him one more year’s time so that he could dig around the tree, put sufficient manure and take care of it. Then, if it still did not bear fruit, the master could cut it down.

This parable primarily refers to the people of the Jews. God chose them for His own, gave them advantages for knowing and serving him above any other people, and expected answerable fruit, which was to praise, honor and glorify Him. But they disappointed Him, for which He wanted to abandon them. But because of Messiah’s intercession, He gave them further time and mercy; by sending his apostles among them, to call them to repentance. Some of them repented and brought fruit, but the majority continued to live their own lives, as a result of which, around 70.A.D. they were cut down, the temple was destroyed, and they were scattered. 
We see that the fig tree was planted in a vineyard, in better soil, and where it had more care taken of it and more pains taken with it, than other fig-trees had. The church of God is His vineyard, and fenced about, Isa.5:1-2. We are fig-trees planted in this vineyard by our baptism; we have a place and a name in the church, he has not dealt so with other nations. The owner came to see his trees and was disappointed that there were none.
The God of heaven expects fruit from those who are planted in his vineyard. His eyes are on those who enjoy the gospel, to see whether they live up to it.

It is so sad to think how many enjoy the privileges of the gospel, but do nothing at all to bring honour and glory to God. He is sorry for such people. He was not hasty. He gave the people sufficient time to bring fruits, but year after year, He was disappointed. These three years here may also mean the three years of Messiah’s ministry, which was already completed. When He came for the fruit, He found none. The tree was not only useless but was also occupying space and enjoying attention while another tree in the same place might have brought fruit. Here we should see that those who do nothing set a bad example for others. They may think that they are not doing anyone any harm, but by their attitude they actually discourage those that are good; they harden and encourage those that are bad.
God has passed His judgment, ‘Cut it down!’ See Isa.5:5-6. As the unfruitful vineyard is dismantled, and thrown open, so also the unfruitful trees in the vineyard are cut down and cast out of it,(John.15:6.)  It is cut down by the judgments of God, just as the Jews who did not believe.
The gardener, who is Messiah, intercedes for such people. He does not tell the Father to cut it down but pleads for the tree, His people. He wanted to give them some more time, in the hope that they would repent. Remember, Noah told the people about the coming flood and took a hundred years to build the ark, but still, in spite of that, the people still refused to believe him or repent. God, who is patient, will not wait till eternity for his people to bring forth good fruit. (2 Pet.3:9-10) Again, observe that the master, who is the Father, does not like to destroy anyone Himself. He tells the gardener to do it. But the gardener, who is Messiah, also does not like to do the job. How great is our Father, who does not want anyone to perish, nor wish to destroy or cast away someone!
The Lord has given us one more year in this world. Maybe this will be last chance for some of us. Let us not sit back and relax like the people in Noah’s time. The last days are upon us. Already we see the signs around us. Earthquakes, floods, fires, diseases, they are all increasing in their intensity. NASA reported in 1995 that the moon was filling up with blood (Rev.6: 12). Lawlessness is increasing. There is no love among men (Matt.24: 12).
Shall we bring good fruit this year or shall we perish? Remember, now is the day of salvation. (2Cor.6: 2)