LET THE BIBLE SPEAK.

Bearing Fruit and Winning Souls. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise (Prov. 11:30). Every life is like some kind of tree. A righteous life is like a good tree bearing good fruit. A wicked life is like a bad tree bearing bad fruit. Jesus said, "Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit" (Matt. 7:17,18). Fruit of a Righteous Life. A righteous person produces fruit that may be considered "a tree of life." This includes the following: (1) Good Influence In Word and Deed. The faithful child of God, "by his good deeds, is as a tree of life to those whose lives he sustains" (Whiteside). Many around us can be uplifted by the power of a good example. The Christian wields a wholesome influence as the "salt of the earth" and the "light of the world" (Matt. 5:

Making Your Life Right With God. There is no greater responsibility than that of making your life right with Godl The wise man Solomon said, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep his commandments: For this is the whole duty of man" (Eccl. 12:13). After all has been said and done, the only thing that will count in the day of judgment is whether you have respected God enough to do what he says. Sin Because of sin, you need to make your life right with God. (1) All have sinned. Every person who reaches the age of accountability is a sinner. Paul told the Romans, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). (2) Sin is transgression of God's law. John said, "Whosoever commiteth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law" (1 Jn. 3:4). To sin is to miss the mark either by committing acts of wrong doing or as James said, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth