(Mark 11:12-14)  And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Jesus walked by a fig tree one day.  From a distance, it looked like it would have succulent fruit to eat.  It was thriving; covered with well-formed and healthy leaves.  Upon closer examination, there were no figs on it at all.  It looked healthy, but it was not.  It was not properly replicating itself.  Jesus cursed that tree, and it withered and died.

The fruit of a fig tree is figs.  The fruit of a Christian is another Christian.  Like the fig tree, there are many Christians who are full of healthy, luscious leaves.  They appear to be healthy on the outside.  From a distance, they look like they should be full of fruit.  But a closer examination finds them void of their very purpose—replicating themselves.

Like the withered-up fig tree, the Christian who does not replicate him/herself can too whither up and die.  Their life with Christ can suffer and they can backslide away from God.  Although they can never lose their salvation, they can lose their fellowship with God. ~