The picture below surfaced on Facebook, Pinterest, and then several internet sites. Since every site had the exact same picture but no additional information, I’m not sure where the tree exists, if it truly does. But those who love the Lord can definitely authentic the message.
Arborists, the professionals who study, cultivate, and maintain trees/shrubs, can also diagnose a problem and often times treat a diseased tree or plant, nursing them back to health.
Did you know that, just like us, trees go through different stages of life? Germination or sprouting occurs when the seed “implants,” meaning the roots cut through the seed and attach to the ground. A shoot appears and pushes up through the soil.
The shoot becomes a seedling. In the life of a tree, this is one of the most dangerous times because it’s at risk for diseases and being eaten by animals. Scale insects are small but effective in the work, sucking sap or moisture from trees. Too much water uproots a tree; too little dries it out. Wind, soil erosion, and lightning strikes are some notable concerns for trees.
Though information varies, a tree is classified as a sapling when it’s 4 to 32 inches. At this stage, most saplings have smooth bark, do not produce fruit or flowers, and their trunks are still flexible.
A tree is classified as mature when it begins to bear fruit or flowers. Dangers still exist for mature trees, same as when they were seedlings. But the trees that live for decades, centuries, and even thousands of years are subject to decline and demise from “natural causes.” Affectionately named Methuselah, a pine tree in the Sierra Nevada mountain range is cited to be approximately 4800 years old!
As you read along, did you notice any similarities between an arborist, a tree, and a Christian?
Did you see the arborist as a type of Christ? We need the Lord to diagnose troubled, weak, or diseased areas in our lives. He prunes us so we can continue a healthy growth and bare much fruit. Like the tree, there are times when we too are at risk from enemies—ourselves or others—who attack our faith, trying to get at our roots, nibbling, deriding, or even disguised as something good.
Maybe that’s why the Bible talks about roots over sixty-one times! I’m sure the Lord has impressed several verses on your heart. Here’s one of my favorites:
Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. (Col. 2:7, NLT)
Today, let’s ask the Lord to perform a checkup on our root system. His desire is to cultivate, nourish, and protect our roots so we stand firm in Him, mature and fruitful.
I pray that we may be like oaks, rooted and grounded in Him!
I love all this information, and the relevance to our life with Christ! What a great picture (literally and figuratively) and reminder that our source is Himself. Love this!