Jeremiah

Sunday we took the opportunity to walk thru Fort Defiance in Clarksville TN, a civil war park and visitor center. The Fort was positioned on the river to assist with trade and protection and over looked the city of Clarksville during that time. They have put a walk way thru the encampment that winds in and around the grounds noting out specific areas and information about each regarding the war, inhabitants and lifestyle of the time.
As we walked thru the wooded areas we were in awe of God’s creation and beauty. But something stood out to us ….there were gorgeous old trees struggling to stay alive because of vines growing up them and stealing their nutrients. As we walked looking at these trees it dawned on us what a great picture of Christians in the world today.
As Christians it is our desire to grow strong and withstand what this world throws against us. We read/study the Bible, we pray, worship – our daily lives striving to show the world who Christ is in us. All the while, the darkness of the world comes in to hide our fruits, to cover up and strangle our attempts. As the vines chock the tree of its life sources of nutrients and sunshine – so does the darkness in our lives. The darkness can be things as simple as allowing busyness to take our time, TV to dictate our schedule, outside activities taking over our daily lives, work demanding time away from our family or worship. Sometimes we don’t see the vines suffocating us and we see our time as beneficial.
Step back and look at your roots – are they deeply planted? Are you being bathed daily in the “SON”shine? Do you have any entanglements that need to be trimmed or removed for your witness?
In the Old Testament Jerimiah wrote: ‘blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has not worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit’ Jeremiah17:7-8.