now I have been looking for figs on this tree, and I have found none. Cut it down, why should it continue to deplete the soil?’ The gardener replied, ‘Leave it one more year, so that I may dig around it and add some fertilizer; perhaps it will bear fruit from now on. But if it doesn’t, you can cut it down.’”

Reflections

“But unless you change your ways, you will all perish.”Earlier, “publish or perish” be- came the hashtag of many uni- versities. This is because tertiary educators are required to do research and publish. The conse- quence when this requirement is not complied with is of course to “perish”, meaning, to be out of the academe. It is argued that such a requirement is unreaso- nable and is unmindful of conse- quent inconveniences added to the already loaded responsibili- ties of teachers. But the educa- tion sector stood on its ground asserting that this has always been part of the conditions for college teachers.“Publish or perish” is an intimi- dating phrase. But more frighte- ning is“change your ways (repent) or perish”. The Lord has indeed more serious demands. That is why one author said that Christia- nity is not for the weak of heart but for the strong. It is only for those who can rise up to the chal- lenge, to truly change their ways, and become productive as the Lord expects. And we cannot ar- gue that this is unreasonable and that this adds more difficulty to our already difficult life. We were not coerced to become Christians. We made that choice. At that time that following Jesus became our decision, we knew the expecta- tion.
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