Years ago, in what seems like a former life, I was waiting in the lobby at the health department so I could speak to my boss. There were large windows facing the parking lot, and so I turned my eyes there, since my body was trapped inside that dreary place.
It was an overcast spring day, too early for flowers. The colors were vivid, though, and so I noticed a dry, crumpled leaf, very pale against the dark surface of the parking lot, trapped by the wind against the building. Somehow it had made it through the entire winter intact, and was now out in the open. While I watched, it began to rain.
I wondered what the leaf, if it had had consciousness, might feel to finally receive the rain soaking into its tissues.
“That poor thing will never re-hydrate,” I thought. “It’s too late.”
The leaf put me in mind of a man I knew who was desperately in need of some life. In my eyes he was broken, dying from a thousand cuts, as the saying goes. But his cuts were all self-inflicted, for he was surrounded by loving people waiting to help him in many ways, but he refused all help without explanation.
I wasn’t close to the Lord back then, and so I looked at the world the way one without hope sees it. I jotted down a few notes, and then wrote the following poem:
Late Rain
You crouch against the wall,
sharpened by neglect
like an autumn leaf,
fragmented by spring winds.
You resist my best efforts
to comfort you,
trusting instead your
cherished pain,
and I realize:
Sometimes
the rain comes
too late.
Just as the battered leaf doesn’t die just because it has been blown about by the wind; rather, it dies because it cuts itself off from the tree, this man was suffering at that time because he had cut himself off from all outside resources. (I knew him all his life, and when I look back, I believe that he found connection to God, and that healing flowed over his mind and body, and that God gave him a new, unbroken heart; I have faith that is so.)
A leaf that is still connected to the tree may be blown like crazy all day long, but for the most part, it remains whole, flooded by healing nutrients from the tree. Being blown, or bitten (within reason), or even crushed doesn’t destroy a leaf until after it has let go of the tree. After that, all the leaf’s resources are gone except for that which it holds within its little self; each buffet by the wind, each time it is stepped on, each little crease dehydrates it and breaks it down a little more until it is nothing but scattered fragments in the wind.
But just as the leaf isn’t meant to live disconnected from the tree, we are not meant to live disconnected from God. His love has created us; it sustains us moment by moment from the blows of life, filling us with his health, his living water, his inspiration. He is the reason why we want to keep on living!
‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
Many times when I feel so dry, so empty, so tapped, like I have nothing left, it’s because I am “bootstrapping” again. I’m relying on myself, trusting no one, and believing “in myself.” But the result speaks for itself: In reality, I am dying because I have become disconnected from the vine.
Is it pride that makes me do that? Maybe. Those who point the finger like to say so. But I think the reality is that when I step away from the vine, I actually do it with good intentions. I believe I am “helping” by not being so dependent. I tell myself I am resourceful. I have raised the idea of “going without” something to the level of a virtue, instead of seeing that when I go without something, I suffer the same as everyone else does.
Our will can’t overcome our physical need for, let’s say, water. And in the same way, our will can’t overcome our spiritual need for the living water. We will die without it. If we can’t admit our need, then we cannot ask for our need to be met. We’ve heard the mantra of AA: “The first step is admitting you have a problem.”
In any case, I want to live. I want to plug in, and be connected, and I want to contribute to the good that my God has created for me. Did you know that the opportunity to do the good works was prepared for us before we even existed? God already planned opportunities for us to belong in community and to care for others.
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10
Are you disconnected? Why?
I was, for many years. I let the bad experiences I had gone through at the hands of those who claimed to be Christians tarnish my idea of my true Father, God. I believed the slurs that came out of their mouths. After all, how did I know anything about God except what the Christians told me? I had an idea that God was cold and scolding, waiting for me to slip up on some rule so that he could punish me. I am not sure who taught me that exact belief, but I am not the only one who believed it, so it’s bigger than just my experience.
I can list all the wrongs done to me at the hands of self-identifying Christians for the rest of the day. You would be shocked, and then get angry, and maybe even be convinced that all Christians are hypocrites, and that the whole thing is a trick to gain power over the lives of the unsuspecting. But that’s a lie.
I had to learn that it was a lie. If you want to know the truth about someone, do you ask their enemy? Of course not! Jesus gave us clear direction on how to know who was a real follower: We will know them by their fruits.
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits. . .every good tree brings forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit. . .so by their fruits you shall know them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 7:15, 17, 20-21
If there are “ravening wolves” among the sheep, I wonder what they will be eating? Jesus knew how dangerous false teachers were, and he called them out. He said outright that they were hypocrites: “Why do you behold the mote in your brother’s eye, and consider not the bean in your own eye?” Matthew 7:4
The hypocrites taught the people to obey the letter of the law and ignore the spirit behind it. You have heard the saying, “You can’t legislate morality,” and it’s true. If people don’t truly love each other because the love of God in their hearts, then following rules won’t make it happen. But the rules are even more necessary for those who don’t have love in their hearts, because the rules at least show the standard.
But simply following the letter of the law will not make anyone righteous, because, even if you could pull it off perfectly, being sinless is only half of being righteous: We have to do good, righteous things in addition to not sinning against God. What things? We don’t even fully know what they are unless we are hearing from the Spirit, because they are unique works, designed just for us, by God. Those works may be things like washing the car to surprise your husband when he comes home from work; or making a cake for someone’s birthday, or just spending time with a person who is lonely. God will direct you through the compassion he puts in your heart, just when you need it.
“So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” James 4:17
The Apostle Paul, in his book to the Romans calls that becoming “a living sacrifice.”
“I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
“Strength rejoices in the challenge” is the motto for a local school.
We were made for a purpose, and we were designed, body and mind, to fulfill that purpose. And part of our worship is to do what God designed us to do. We have to produce “fruit” (doing what God designed us to do) as proof of being connected to the “vine” (which is Jesus Christ).
Jesus even used that standard of looking at the “fruit” of his own life to prove himself. Jesus pointed to his own actions: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)
He loves us, and proved it by dying for us. And he doesn’t just want to save us from death–he wants to save us from destroying ourselves through sin, because all sin leads to death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Jesus wants us to be good, like God is good. He actually tells us to be “perfect, as our Father is perfect.” Does that mean you have to have every hair in place, never burp in public and always look like your possessions are new? Nope, that’s not even close. God’s perfection means to be perfectly loving, the way God loves. But how is that possible?
We can’t do it if we are not connected; I can tell you that. We don’t have enough resources to love deeply, sincerely, with all of our heart, the way God loves us. We can’t even love ourselves like that. But when we are connected to God, we can do amazing feats of love! Why? Because he supports us. He inspires us. He gives us resources so that we can bless others with them, and just when think we will run out, he shows up, feeding us with more of what we need.
There is no end to his love! There is nothing he can’t forgive, no addiction, no cruelty, no failure of any kind, because he completely understands our lives. Jesus lived here. He was ignored, betrayed, beaten, mocked, and yet he remained sinless, and he loved those around him in practical ways. He turned water into wine because weddings are so important. He fed people, he healed people, he cast out their demons, and he taught the truth about who His Father really is. He even asked God to forgive those who were putting him to death!
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” were almost his last words, said while he was hanging on the cross.
Does all this match your idea of God? If not, why not find out the truth? Why trust people you don’t like, people you distrust, to tell you about God? Isn’t it important for you to know for yourself?
If you want to know who God is, check with someone in the know: Jesus, his Son, is the only one who has seen Him, so he is the only primary source. Jesus’s death on the cross is what makes it possible for us to address God the Father directly. And now, in addition to what Jesus said about him, we can ASK GOD OURSELVES.
Then find out who God is for yourself. Go to the source. Pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you and he absolutely will. “If you seek me, you will find me,” God says, “if you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13) That’s a promise based on the condition that you are seriously seeking with everything you have.
And if you are serious, Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door will be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
God really is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He created everything you can see and holds it into being every moment that goes by. His mercy is everlasting and his truth endures forever. Approaching him isn’t something to be taken lightly. He, alone, is God. He, alone, is Holy. When you approach a great man, you wait on him. God isn’t a man; he is greater than any being we have ever heard about. He is higher than us, more powerful than we can imagine and more wonderful than our minds can handle. It is right that we wait patiently for him.
King David said, “I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me and heard my cry.” (Psalms 40:1)
Do you want to know the truth about God? ASK HIM. Read his words. Look at the world he created–not the part that man messed up, but the part God’s fingerprints are on. Go into the woods and spend some time. Look at the lakes, and at the beautiful leaves during this time of year. Ask him to show you the truth, and you’ll see.
Then Get Connected!
How do we connect with God? It’s so simple. Just believe in who Jesus is and in the work that he did for us, and obey his commandments (follow him). Jesus Christ is the son of God, and he is God, himself, who took on human form.
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man comes unto the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father, also. From now on, you do know him, and have seen him.”
Philip said. “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
Jesus said unto him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ “John 14:6-9
The work that Jesus did was to show us the Father’s love, and to set us free from sin. He did all that and more by coming to earth, living as a perfect man (perfect according to God, so embodying God’s love and not sinning against God’s law), and then, as an innocent man, he died the death of a criminal. The Roman authority said he was not guilty of anything, but the religious authorities demanded that he be killed for claiming to be God.
We are the criminals, for living in open rebellion against God. Jesus died for us, in our place. And by dying, He paid the debt for our sin. All we have to do is believe that he paid it, and God will welcome us back into the life He planned for us. He restores our free will so that we have a choice again, instead of being slaves to sin. He breaks the power of sin. He fills us with his power, and leads us to everlasting life. Jesus moves us from being God’s enemies to being his friends.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
So what if you were once connected to God, but things have gotten in the way and leveraged you away from God? First, recognize that ANYTHING that tries to kill you is a bad thing. Anything that inserts itself between you and God is trying to cut you off from life! It is your deadly, eternal enemy! So how do you get away from it, whatever it is?
You know that old-fashioned word “repent?” It literally means to turn. Turn away from whatever you are trying to do in your own strength, and reach out to our beautiful Savior in prayer. He is literally a prayer away. He is watching, waiting for you to come back, and will rejoice over you the way the Prodigal son’s father rejoiced over his return. He promises that whatever the problem has been that had separated you from him, it has no power over you once you reach out to God for help.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” Romans 8:35
Once we decide to believe in Jesus, nothing can can separate us from the love of God. But we are easily deceived. We are even seduced from God by the idea of our own virtue. We drift away like an autumn leaf, believing in our own beauty, but our life can only continue when we are connected. Our own anything is empty and temporary without the sustaining love of God and the bottomless resources He offers. We need Him. That’s all there is to it.
We are “more than conquerors,” the book of Romans tells us, “through Him that loved us.”
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38 – 39.
Be encouraged! And if you need to reconnect, don’t wait. There’s no time.
Jesus said, “He that believes on me, as the Scripture said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38
Every minute, you are drying out, my friend, and it’s no fun to die. When you have to make a choice about being connected; choose life!
The Fullers Four 