TENDRILS……

 

 

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV®)

    Being a novice at gardening, I planted cucumbers with my beans and tomatoes. My bride liked making and eating bread and butter pickles, that made the cucumbers a happy wife—happy life matter. Knowing the cucumbers needed to climb I drove a couple of steel fence post in the ground and ran three strings between the post.

     The issue that arose with the cucumbers was their tendrils. As vines grew the tendrils would entangle everything in the garden except the homemade trellis. I would have to regularly unwind their tendrils from bean and tomato plants. If I was not alert to the entangling, the plants would be choked.

     The next planting season, I moved the cucumbers to their own plot with a piece of wire fencing. They seemed to enjoy wrapping their tendrils around the fence. The other plants were free from entanglement.

     The battle with the cucumbers, reminded me of how things in my life have entangled me with sinful desires. Some of the tendrils that had twisted their way into my life was use of my time. Going to the bar to be with buddies or going home after work. Getting up on Sunday morning while hearing the fish calling me rather than the Lord calling me to worship. These may seem small but they are like the tendrils of the cucumbers, they can choke your Christian life.

     Just like with the cucumbers, I had to change my surroundings and those around me. Surrounded by a cloud of witnesses (fellow believers) was a better plot than that of the worldly crowd. If you find yourself being gripped by the world’s tendrils, try turning your eyes to Jesus and His Word. Don’t be entangled and choked by the ways of the world.

 

 

                                      Wess Mechler, P.H.D.  (Past Having Doubts)

                                      Jesus is Alive!

 

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