The Lesson of the Old Tree

When trees are young, they can be straightened if they grow crooked by using a rope and a stake to force them into a straight position.

If the rope and stake are  left in place long enough, the tree will begin to grow properly and its entire destiny will be changed.

As trees grow old, it becomes more difficult to change their growth patterns. The older they get, the thicker, harder and more brittle they become. At some point, any attempt to straighten crooked growth may kill the tree.

It is the same with people.

The writer of the book of Hebrews quotes Psalm 95 as follows:

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

If we harden ourselves to the call of our Creator, it will become more and more difficult to hear Him and, thus, to be mended by His Holy Spirit.

Finally, after a time, we will become completely estranged from Him and will no longer be able to hear His call to return to Him who created us and who loves us so deeply.

...and our lives will then assume the characteristics

of the idols we worship...

...yet we were made for Him.

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven? At that time, His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, ‘Once more, I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming Fire.” Hebrews 12:25-29

How about you?

Regardless of your age, you can ask God to make you as supple as a young tree.

The secret is humility before Him.

"Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 18:3

Learn the lesson of the old tree.

God can make you as supple as a sapling…and fulfill His great purpose for you and in you...

...only then will you know "the Life that is truly Life."
1 Timothy 6:19b