Drought Condition – Is Fire Imminent? (Part I)

Winter rolls into spring ushering in the hope of new life.  Fresh green sprouts explode out of ground and branch, combining water and nutrients energy provided from above during the lengthening days, begin the annual process of replenishing the fruitfulness of the land.   Surrounded by new life, an abundance of sunshine, and rivers flowing with fresh stores of water do not foretell the season to come. Nature considers not the slow approach of summer.

Bathed in clear bright days of early summer, leaves and grasses rejoice in the light.  They reach up to absorb every bit of light and energize the reproduction of species.  Simultaneously, roots extend deep to draw in the cool life giving water below.  Long gone are the sounds of swift creeks swollen by the melting snows.  Oblivious to to the higher clouds and lower water tables, photosynthesis marches on. The once supple soil becomes a cracked and broken battleground  the moisture starved and wind whipped atmosphere battles thirsty roots for the last bits of surface water.  Finally, with no means of cooling and transport green begins to make it’s retreat.

I remember a newness of life.  God’s love was so real.  Everyday I was seeing new ways that he cared about me.  Well aware of the garbage that was inside of me, He saw fit to reach out to me and give me a new life.  Soaking in the compassion and grace that He afforded me I sought after more and more.  I loved the Spring and it seemed that so many around me were basking in His love as well.  Live was pretty awesome.

So what is the point?  Have we remembered the point? God made us for a reason and He is perfecting us for a purpose.   He planted us in a field to bring forth fruit.  Am I content with soaking in the warmth of His love and grace, soaking up rivers of His joy and peace, and consuming the nutrients of His Word and Holiness?  If this is the extent of my existence, then I am just a weed producing nothing but ground cover, squandering the resources intended to bring life to a sin and death stained world.

He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?” He said to them, “An enemy has done this.” So the servants said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he said, “No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”” (Matt 13:24-30)

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (Matt 7:19-20)

I have spent most of my adult life sucking up moisture and producing very little.  Observing the life of the church, I see much of the same condition.  God created us for a purpose that is being strangled by weeds that we have sown. Conditions are ripe for a weed consuming fire.  Will God provide the match?

6 comments

  1. I reckon the reason people dont produce much fruit is that they aren’t abiding in the vine. Just getting busy for God without grasping the magnitude of the cross just doesn’t cut it. What do you thing? cheers Graeme

    1. Graeme,

      I have a FB Men’s group that is reading the book of 1st John everyday for 30 days and discussing. The topic of abiding came up and I thought of this comment you left and thought I would throw this out to you.

      Here is how I synthesized the question in our group:
      “Abiding is a word that is not often used in our language today and has several meanings.
      1.To remain in a place; To continue to be sure or firm; endure; To dwell or sojourn. or 2. Archaic to dwell; to await in expectation; to withstand or sustain; endure.
      What is really meant when we say “abide in Him”. I thought I knew, but I really don’t.
      (I hope you guys can abide my incessant questioning)

      Any thoughts I could share with my group?

      1. Hey Chuck, thanks for asking, here’s what I think.
        Abiding is often mistaken as an activity of the fruit, actually the fruit do nothing but allow themselves to be nourished by the vine. Same with us, we fall into the trap of thinking we must engage in some activity to be abiding – as if our participation in the busyness of the Christian culture equates to abiding – fact is; the busier we are doing stuff the less we are focussed on what Christ did. For me abiding is all about gaining a clear revelation of the work of Christ, understanding the outcomes of the cross and his shed blood and making the declaration (firstly to myself) that this work is enough to be the source of my existence. So abiding is actually resting in the fact that Christ did it all, and as a result “I am in Him and He is in me”.
        Dont get me wrong, I’m not advocating idleness, but I am advocating developing a confidence that I am hidden in His work, then anything I do is simply the overflow of His goodness, rather than an attempt to attain his approval by my own works.
        Please feel free to ask further,
        cheers Graeme

  2. I reckon the reason people dont produce much fruit is that they aren’t abiding in the vine. Just getting busy for God without grasping the magnitude of the cross just doesn’t cut it. What do you thing? cheers Graeme

    1. Graeme,

      I have a FB Men’s group that is reading the book of 1st John everyday for 30 days and discussing. The topic of abiding came up and I thought of this comment you left and thought I would throw this out to you.

      Here is how I synthesized the question in our group:
      “Abiding is a word that is not often used in our language today and has several meanings.
      1.To remain in a place; To continue to be sure or firm; endure; To dwell or sojourn. or 2. Archaic to dwell; to await in expectation; to withstand or sustain; endure.
      What is really meant when we say “abide in Him”. I thought I knew, but I really don’t.
      (I hope you guys can abide my incessant questioning)

      Any thoughts I could share with my group?

      1. Hey Chuck, thanks for asking, here’s what I think.
        Abiding is often mistaken as an activity of the fruit, actually the fruit do nothing but allow themselves to be nourished by the vine. Same with us, we fall into the trap of thinking we must engage in some activity to be abiding – as if our participation in the busyness of the Christian culture equates to abiding – fact is; the busier we are doing stuff the less we are focussed on what Christ did. For me abiding is all about gaining a clear revelation of the work of Christ, understanding the outcomes of the cross and his shed blood and making the declaration (firstly to myself) that this work is enough to be the source of my existence. So abiding is actually resting in the fact that Christ did it all, and as a result “I am in Him and He is in me”.
        Dont get me wrong, I’m not advocating idleness, but I am advocating developing a confidence that I am hidden in His work, then anything I do is simply the overflow of His goodness, rather than an attempt to attain his approval by my own works.
        Please feel free to ask further,
        cheers Graeme

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