The Importance of Staying Rooted in Christ: A Lesson from Cutting Down a Tree

So we’ve recently got some trees cut in our yard. The Spirit used this to speak to me about the impact of a dead tree and why it’s important to get them removed not only in the physical realm but also in the spiritual realm.

Being from Mississippi, we know that we often experience tornadoes and strong winds. I remember when a strong wind came through years ago and fell on my neighbor's house. It was one of the scariest experiences ever because we heard the tree snap, but we couldn't see anything since we were taking shelter. Now, my family and I are always on high alert when we hear about severe weather. We also have trees surrounding our home, so it’s one of our biggest fears. Because of that, my dad wanted to have them cut down.

Once a tree becomes dead, it becomes unstable, meaning it is no longer solid and firm and will not last. This makes the tree more dangerous because it’s bound to fall, whether its branches or the entire tree. When we’re dead spiritually we to become the same , not even realizing it. 

The bigger question of this is: What causes a tree to die? Well, according to ThoughtCo, diseases, insects, nutrient deficiencies, and droughts are just a few of the factors. The things mentioned here are also things that can cause us, as Christians, to lose our strength in Christ and sometimes even stop producing what He has created in us. 

After finding out that, I was led to my verse for this post, which is John 15. It reads 

6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This verse pretty much speaks for itself. Jesus is speaking here, and it emphasizes how important it is to remain in Him and produce good fruit. If you don't remain in Him, you will be thrown away.

How does this relate? Sometimes, you need to cut off dead things in life, especially when they’re not producing kingdom results. You have to go to the source and see what is dead in our area and what needs to be cut down. We should be so thankful that we serve a God of second chances. He doesn’t throw us away right away, but He reproves us. He allows the Spirit to correct and convict us as He sees fit.

You may have dead trees or branches in your life taking up space. Are you willing to cut them down and start over correctly? Are you willing to allow Christ in and diagnose the problem to restore you? Are you willing to remain in Christ so that you are not thrown away?

If we truly rely on Christ for our spiritual nourishment, then without a shadow of a doubt, He will produce the right things in us, no matter if we’re going through a period of disease or in a season of drought. We must stay connected to the true source, where our health and strength come from.

I don’t know about you, but I would rather be cut down and replanted than be thrown away completely without having a connection to the One who gives eternal life.