“I am the vine and you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in Him will produce much fruit for without Me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
This year we decided that we would grow a few garden plants. Usually, our summer is so crammed with activities and travel, that it is not possible for us to do it but this year was a little different. We knew we would be closer to home all summer, so we decided to give it a go. So, I built a planter box, found buckets, filled with soil, nutrients, water, and put them in the sun. I was faithful in watering them and making sure they got every chance to grow and produce. Among other things I planted 8 tomato plants (mostly Cherry tomatoes) and all of them were a different kind. Then it started to happen.
You can relate the excitement and joy I felt when that first tiny little green ball popped up on the first plant. But then another one and then another one and then before you know it, I had tomatoes galore! Except for 2 plants. These 2 plants were the biggest, greenest, lushest plants I had. They quickly ruled the space they consumed and looked quite impressive compared to the other ones. But no fruit.
Then one morning, I finally saw what I had been waiting for, 3 beautiful green spheres of promise. I was so excited. Every day I went out and looked at them, admiring them, willing them to grow until one morning I went out and… They were gone! I was so angry and frustrated!!!!! Then I spotted the culprit. There were 2 squirrels hanging out in a tree mocking me and pointing their grubby little fingers at me and laughing at me. After a while, that plant just stopped producing anything. It was still green and lush and beautiful but…. nothing.
The other one was the biggest, most beautiful plant I had ever grown. It was huge and green and impressive. But no fruit. I should have taken it and put it on the porch so others could see how impressive this plant was, but I didn’t. I just went out every morning combing through its branches searching for something, anything but to no avail. (The ironic thing is the plant that look the sickest, the weakest, the most pitiful gave us the most tomatoes and they were also the sweetest ones too.)
As I was sulking over the lack of fruit, I was reminded of this verse. (I am not sure from where, but I have heard recently) They are many people who soak in every ounce they can of God’s word, music, Bible studies, and whatever else they can get their hands on. They eat and eat and eat at God’s table and they to talk to them, they are impressive. They can quote scripture, tell you of the latest conference they attended, bedazzle you with all their christian apparel, and from the outside looking in they seem to be the one to emulate and follow. But sadly, there is no fruit. They have made Christ a lifestyle and forget to make Him their life.
Others look impressive and you have seen fruit in them in the past but somewhere along the way their fruit was robbed from them and eventually the facade was easier to maintain than to actually produce any fruit in their lives. So, they sit in quiet frustration wishing there was something more.
Then there are some who seem they are just beaten and bruised. Life has been rough and they show it. But somehow, they continue to grow and produce over and over and over again. The struggles in their lives have produced something far greater than anything this world has to offer. They abide in Him and He has blessed them abundantly.
Following Him,
Pastor Jeff