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

FISHERS OF MEN

SHEPHERD TO SHEEP 

FISHERS OF MEN 

(Mat 4:19) Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

One day Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee and saw Peter and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea as they were fishermen.  Jesus walked right up to them and said they were to follow Him and that in so doing they would now be occupied with fishing for men’s souls.  But is it a call just for two brothers who became disciples?  It’s for all followers of Christ of all times.   

The question from the beginning is whether a follower of Christ should be silent and let God do the converting or if a believer should actively share their faith.  Upon conversion it is quite natural to experience a spiritual high and to tell friends and family you are now following Jesus (Mark 5:18-20; Acts 10:24).  After that there might be a cooling off period where you decide to just live the faith more than proclaim it.  But that is like asking which wing of an airplane is the most important, the right or the left?!  The gospel needs to be given out so people can hear the good news of Jesus and then place their faith in Him (Rom 1:16; Rom 10:14-15). 

Those of us who believe we should actively share our faith are termed evangelicals by others.  That’s not such a bad term because to be an evangelist (euaggelizo) means to bring good news to someone.   The word preach (kerusso) means to publish or proclaim openly like the heralds that used to go around the city and shout out the current news.  And the word proclaim (kataggello) means to announce publically.  Isn’t that what we are doing when share how Jesus died for sinners and that they can be saved if they place their trust in His work on the cross for their sins?   

The next time you go to church take a good look at those empty chairs.  Each chair represents a person.  You might ask why don’t more people come to church and fill up those seats?  Or you may be so spiritual and say that God will bring people when it’s their time.  But the Bible says that now is the day of salvation (2 Cor 6:2).  There is an urgency about the gospel that calls all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).   And we are all placed under the imperative of the Great Commission to reach the whole world for Him (Mat 28:18-20).  And the world is won one by one.  And that one is the one God places right in front of you.   

What about that person you work with?  Have you told them the message of Jesus?  Have you led your children to Christ?  Have you prayed the prayer with them to receive the Lord?  Does that person you always talk with know Christ as their Savior?  Have you switched over from small talk to tall talk?  If they died tonight where would their soul be for all eternity?  We talk about the weather, politics, sports, the economy and a myriad of other things but have people heard the greatest news of all through you?  Let’s ask the Lord to give us a burden for lost souls and for fresh opportunities to share God’s love and the boldness to be a fisher of men!  

Louie