THOUGHTS FROM THE REDWOODS

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP

THOUGHTS FROM THE REDWOODS

This year Cheryl and I traveled up to northern California to see the coastal Redwoods. Once you enter the redwood forests there is an instant canopy of towering trees that envelop you as dappled sunlight peeks through. After many days of camping and walking in the inspiring woods came these THOUGHTS FROM THE REDWOODS:

TALL – Fact: The coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) towers over all other trees in the world. There are 135 known redwoods that reach higher than 350 feet. When you are around a redwood your head naturally tilts back and your eyes want to follow its trunk all the way to the top. (I even had to twist my baseball hat around backward to achieve this.) Lesson: Live in an upright and godly way so that people will look to heaven and be saved. (Mat 5:16) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

LONGEVITY – Fact: With an average lifespan of 500-700 years, coastal redwoods can live to more than 2,000 years. Lesson: Long life and quality of days for the godly is a general principle of scripture. (Psa 34:12-13) Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. (Job 42:17) So Job died, old and full of days. But if a believer suffers a premature death there is still the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord! (John 11:25-26) Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

DURABILITY - Fact: Redwoods have few natural enemies. Tannic acid makes them resistant to disease and insect infestation, and their up to 12 inches thick fibrous bark effectively resists fire. Lesson: Through the strength that comes from the Lord and His Word we as believers will be able to resist the world, the flesh, and the devil and stand resilient to the glory of God and the service of our King. (1 John 2:14)…I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one. (Psa 27:1)…The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

DEATH FROM LIFE: Fact: Nursery trees are where a fallen or cut redwood is surrounded by a circle of younger redwoods, all receiving nutrients from the original tree's root system. You see this all over the redwood forests. Lesson: When we die to ourselves and our desires, life springs up in others by our sacrifice. (2 Cor 4:11) For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Also, Jesus died that we might live. (1 John 4:9)…that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

Back to the hustle and bustle of So Cal but in my mind are THOUGHTS FROM THE REDWOODS.

Louie