Plastic Fruit

Ever fall for that trick where you’ve reached out to grab
A nice, juicy red apple that you wanted to have?
Suddenly, the situation turns from tempting to tragic.
You realize that you're reaching for fruit made of plastic.

A little disappointed, but you’re kind of intrigued
At the intricate detail of which you were deceived.
You scratch your head and think “But it looks so real.”
It’s hard to prove true fruit by merely looking at the peel.

The enemy defrauds us through deceptively clever means.
We’re subject to be “taken in” by fake glimmer and sheen.
It’s difficult to detect but we must look around a bit
And routinely test to ensure our fruit doesn’t prove counterfeit.

The first fruit is Love and you surely don’t want to miss
How easily it’s distorted ever so slightly with a twist.
Righteous love is selfless; it doesn’t seek its own
The counterfeit is really idolatry and “self” is on the throne.

The next fruit is Joy, whose con is hard to spot.
Many seek after happiness but seen closely, joy, its not.
Happiness is brief, and often subject to change.
Joy is found in Christ alone, and He’s always the same.

Look closely at the fruit of Peace, to peace we’re surely called.
Some exhibit passivity but we're called to be involved.
Next we see Patience, easily shrouded in mystique.
Its imposters are dismissive and aloof, these tend to keep us weak.

We seek to acquire Gentleness, which also renders as kind.
We’re friendly but often too detached...just things to keep in mind.
And the quest for Goodness is shaded by reassignment of the word.
We see it more as an adjective. In Scripture, it’s more a verb.

Now Faith we know is substance, though we can be confused.
By so many other uses of “faith”, so test the faith you use.
Also be careful to prove your Meekness to the best of your ability.
Ensuring it’s supported by faith, not self-serving humility.

Temperance is not temperament; in God we seek to achieve
Self-control in all we do by His Spirit that we receive.
We strive to confirm that His Word in us indeed has taken root,
To glorify Him by displaying authentic, not empty plastic fruit.

Here's The Word:

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

2 Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:



In Him,
Cros