The Word and the rain have a lot of similarities. Often times, people don't necessarily think they need to be in church, in their Bibles, or the word in general. "Oh, I'm fine pastor." Folks don't realize they are drying out. Things burn a lot easier when they are all dried out. Farmers and gardeners don't throw live trees and shrubs in the brush pile. They only throw dry, unfruitful, dead brush in the burn pile.
Check outside in mid-July or mid-August and you see the leaves of the trees start to curl up their leaves. This is picture of people when they are out of the word--they start to hold too tight to what they have. They refuse to deal with others with an open hand. They are beginning to die and soon they will fall. Before they do their colors will change. As the ole saying goes, "They are showing their true colors." They are revealing they are dead, or in the process of dying. One way we can know that we have eternal life is that we are givers, as well as receivers.
Take those same dried out things, and saturate them with a good slow rain and life can most often return. They can once again open themselves up to the watering. If disease and death hasn't already set in, it will be much easier, and things won't need to be pruned or cut away. Wait too long, and somethings will need to be cut off and thrown in the brush pile. Long periods of rain slowly over time will restore even the driest of plants. Too much, too fast, because of the shallow root system the plant or tree will be washed away, or fall down. We need to remember this when discipling new believers.
Take those same dried out things, and saturate them with a good slow rain and life can most often return. They can once again open themselves up to the watering. If disease and death hasn't already set in, it will be much easier, and things won't need to be pruned or cut away. Wait too long, and somethings will need to be cut off and thrown in the brush pile. Long periods of rain slowly over time will restore even the driest of plants. Too much, too fast, because of the shallow root system the plant or tree will be washed away, or fall down. We need to remember this when discipling new believers.
ACTION STEP: Now, is the time to get in the Word. Turn it on in the house and just let it play. Standing in the rain brings flowers, grass, trees, and just about everything back to life. Let the word of God get into your root system, so you can survive the drought season. Lift up your hands to the sky while you listen to praise and worship music, and let the music allow your dry soul to absorb the life bringing water of worship into your soul. Sit in the presence of the Living Water and come back to life.
In the end our true color will be exposed. The dead will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Those that are alive will live forever in Eternity with God.
In the end our true color will be exposed. The dead will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Those that are alive will live forever in Eternity with God.
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