Growth

There is a beautiful span of aspen trees in Utah that spread over 106 acres called Pando. They are over 130 years old. In 2006 it was recognized as one of the 40 wonders of America. Why is this group of trees so remarkable? They all share one root system. The health of this root system allows new trees to bud from the existing trees. This root system is so strong, that these trees have withheld terrible weather conditions, forest fires and drought. Our God is a remarkable God. He not only created this masterpiece but, all throughout Scripture He uses trees to give us a picture of who He is and how being rooted in Him actually help us grow. .

Colossians 2:6-7 says “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Paul is writing to the church at a time when there were many false teachers who were denying the sovereignty of God. They were putting doubt in the people’s minds regarding the truth of God’s deity. Paul in his letter to the church at Colosse says, Don’t believe the false teachings but remember what is true and root yourself in that.

In today’s society, we have demolished the fact that the Bible is absolute truth. We have fed into the lies that truth is a belief or feeling that you act upon. John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by your truth, your Word is truth.” When we are rooted in God’s truth by growing downward , rooting ourselves in scripture, it is then that we start to grow and flourish, in every area of our lives.

In Genesis chapter 3:1-7 We see Eve tempted by Satan. She was told, to not eat from the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden. This was absolute truth, and yet, Satan distorts this truth by questioning God’s authority, creating doubt in Eve’s mind, and by believing that lie, she acts upon it by eating from the tree.

When we are not rooted in the truth of God’s Word we tend to place authority on our earthly view instead of a heavenly view. Paul goes on to say in Colossians v.8, Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.” You see when we root ourselves in God and His Word, He opens our eyes to absolute truths that cause us not to be swayed by the lies the devil throws our way.

In John 15 1-8 Jesus says, “I am the vine and my Father is the gardener. A deep Vine that when our thoughts, emotions and beliefs are rooted in Him we will bear much fruit. What is fruit? Growth.

When the storms of life come. When our earthly view, overwhelm us, may we stand firm in the truth. Rooting us. Sustaining us. Growing us.