June
08
Tags
Weed-Wacker

I have this rogue vine growing in my yard and I must be diligent in getting rid of it because if I don’t, it wraps itself around the good flowers and bushes I want and chokes the life out of them.
Of course, I can pull the vine out, but it is only a temporary fix. Unless I get to the root of the plant and sprinkle something on it that kills the root, the plant will always find a way to grow back.
The same goes for my life. The only way to combat the lies that this world wraps around my ankles is to sprinkle the truth of God on them—at their root. And the truth is found in the Word of God, and if I get disconnected from the Word of God, I find the world slowly chokes the life out of me.
There are two ways the lies of the world work on us. The first is through temptation, the second is through accusation.
Temptation is the enticement to do something that might not start out to be morally wrong but ends up becoming more important to us than God. It sounds like this: “Just do it. No one will know. God will still accept you, he loves you remember.”
Temptation is usually followed by an accusation, which sounds like this: “Look at what you’ve done. See who you are? God can’t love you. On one hand, the lie is that God is love, but he isn’t holy. On the other hand, the lie is that God is holy, but has no love.
So, what are we to do? In Ephesians 6, Paul calls the Word of God a sword. Perhaps I could change that to a Weed-Wacker (I’m sure Paul wouldn’t mind). God’s Truth in scripture whacks away at the choking lies that threaten to overtake us.
Being Human connection: The next time you’re feeling disconnected from God and the lies of the world are crawling up your leg and threatening your heart, go to the Truth of God’s Word and do some weeding. Sprinkle God’s truth on the root of the lie. It will be good for the soul!
In this famous painting, Christ stands at a neglected doorway overgrown with weeds and vines, carrying a lantern to illuminate the darkness. The door has no exterior handle, symbolizing that it must be opened from within. Christ comes to us through his Word, bringing truth, light, and the invitation to clear away what hinders our fellowship with him.
Featured art: The Light of the World by William Holman Hunt, 1854 (inspired by Rev. 3:20)
