“You will know them by their fruits”

Something we never want to hear as followers of Christ is, “I didn’t know you were a Christian,” or “I didn’t know you were still that serious about God,” or even, “I thought you stopped following God a while ago.” When our lifestyles, our character, our social media, and the way we carry ourselves no longer align with God’s Word, those are the kinds of statements we’re likely to hear.

Recently, I listened to a podcast where the guests talked about their lives before Christ. They described partying, drinking, unwholesome talk, wild nights at the bar— living in ways that clearly did not reflect God’s Word. They said people were shocked to find out they were Christians or that they even claimed to follow God, because their lives didn’t show it.

That immediately reminded me of Matthew 7:15-20:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know them.”

(Matthew 7:15–20 NKJV)

This passage has been on my heart for a while, but I felt God urging me to share it now. If you’ve ever struggled with living a life that fully reflects Christ, this is a message you need to hear.

Breaking Down the Passage

In this teaching, Jesus warns His followers about identifying true disciples and false prophets. He uses two clear images:

• The wolf represents false prophets. Although they may look religious and sound spiritual, their actions reveal their true hearts.

• The fruit represents the visible results of someone’s life.

  • Good fruit is produced by those who live by the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).

  • Bad fruit is produced by those who live according to the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21).

In short, good fruit comes from the Word, bad fruit comes from the world.

Living It Out

It can be so easy to fall into the ways of the world, especially if you aren’t filling your mind with The Word. If you’re not careful, culture will shape you more than Christ will. Slowly but surely, compromise takes root, and before long, there’s no difference between your life and the life of someone who doesn’t know Jesus at all.

Here’s the hard truth: you can preach God’s Word all day, but if your life doesn’t reflect it, then you’re not living a life for Christ. People may hear your words, but ultimately, they will believe what they see. Jesus didn’t say His followers would be known by their sermons, their Instagram posts, or their church attendance, He said they would be known by their fruit.

And that means the small, everyday choices matter. The way you treat people when no one’s watching. The words you use when you’re angry. The content you consume and share online. The priorities you set with your time and money. All of it reveals what’s truly growing in your heart.

A Life Lesson

Your life is a testimony, whether you want it to be or not. The question is: what is it testifying about you? Do your actions confirm your faith, or do they deny it?

Jesus was clear, trees that do not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. That’s not a metaphor to take lightly. This is a call to examine ourselves. Are we truly following Christ, or are we simply wearing the label “Christian” while living no differently than the world?

At the end of the day, the world doesn’t need more people who just say they believe in Jesus. It needs people whose lives leave no doubt. If your fruit doesn’t match your faith, it’s time to repent, return to God, and let Him transform you from the inside out.

Because when you truly belong to Christ, it will show. And if it doesn’t, then maybe it’s time to ask yourself who you’re really following.