February 13

The Divine Patience

The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. — Matt 3:10 BSB

The image of the axe at the root of the tree is a powerful one. It shows that judgment is imminent, ready to fall at any moment. The tree could be cut down at any time. But the fact that the axe remains at the tree’s root, unused, also speaks of patience. The gardener is waiting, hoping the tree will still bear fruit. The sight of the axe, resting against the tree, carries a clear message.

God waits a long time for unrepentant sinners to turn to Him. He is slow to bring punishment or to cut short the opportunity for repentance. He desires all people to turn to Him and be saved. But we mustn’t take God’s patience for granted. While the axe may not be striking at this moment, it is always close by. The call to judgment could come at any time. The axe of death lies at the root of every life, ready to strike. At any moment, it could be true that “there is only a step between us and death.”

The image of the axe at the root also suggests final judgment—not pruning, but cutting down. God has two kinds of axes. One He uses to prune the trees that bear fruit, cutting off unfruitful branches so the tree can bear more fruit. This pruning is an act of mercy and blessing, not judgment. But God’s other axe is used only in judgment, cutting down trees that bear no fruit, despite all the care they’ve received.

Life is incredibly fragile, and every moment could affect eternity. It is foolish for any soul to rest even one hour with the axe of judgment poised to strike. Only the greatest folly could ignore the duty of repentance in such a case.