(Further reflection on “Incomparable Possession”—Sunday 24-July-2022)
It usually takes 2-7 years, depending on whether it’s seedling or grafting or cutting, for a grape vine to bear fruit. In oder to have a sustainable fruitful grape vine, it needs sun, soil, fertilizer, and pruning. What is interesting is that growing a grape vine from a seed is uncertain in how it will turn out. For example, after eating a certain type of grape and we like its taste and texture, we decided to take its seed and plant it into the ground and wish it would produce the same exact type of grape that we ate. Unfortunately, God’s creation does not seem to like the idea of exact cloning or duplicating. The genetic makeup of the seed somewhat made it grow in the same variety. It will still be a grape, but it is slightly different in taste and texture. Variety and diversity are somewhat imprinted in God’s creation.
The wisdom of God is like a seed of a grape vine. This seed is perfect in its genetic makeup, but this does not guarantee a perfect fruitful grape vine. Any Christian can (if/when he/she) read God’s word but not everyone acquires wisdom and gains understanding. It is not because God’s word is an ‘enigma’ or a mysteriously coded program that needs to be deciphered or hacked. A heart that desires to grow into a relationship with the Lord and knowledge of His word. In addition, the Wisdom of God, like the grapevine seed, without the sun, nothing will grow. Without the Son of God, Jesus Christ, no one can acquire God’s wisdom and gains insights of His word. If it was not because of Jesus, we all remain blind, spiritually. So even if we read God’s word, we won’t be able to understand His heart. And when even we somewhat understood it, we don’t want to put His word into daily practice. As a result, God’s wisdom is still perfect, but it dies in our life. And foolishness is what is left for us to harvest. Like nurturing a healthy grapevine needs fertilizer, our spiritual growth requires the sustaining power of God’s word and the Body of Christ—the local church. In addition, every experienced vine dresser knows that pruning plays an important part in growing and producing healthy and tasty grapes. Similarly, every Christ’s follower should learn and know that God’s word (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16), among other things, is useful for ‘pruning’ (rebuking/correcting) God’s people, so that they can grow healthily an fruitfully. God’s wisdom (’seed’) will be evident in one’s life when God’s word is sown in one’s heart (‘soil’) that longs to draw closer to the Son—Jesus (’sun’) and desires to be nurtured (‘fertilized’) by His Body—the church. Like growing a grapevine from seed, though God's wisdom is made available to everyone, what remains uncertain is how each life will turn out, either bearing wisdom or reaping foolishness. It all depends on the above mentioned factors.
God’s wisdom is “a tree of life” to those who lay hold of her and those who hold her fast are called blessed (cf. Proverbs 3:18). Life, as we all know, is full of both struggles and joy. It is a struggle to acquire His wisdom in one’s life, because it requires practicing of God’s word. It is a joy to enjoy the fruit of His wisdom, not only in an individual life of a member but the whole Body of Christ—His church. May we all desire to lay hold ‘a tree of life’ and hold fast to God’s wisdom as we continue to be blessed and be blessing to others. May we all experience long life, riches, honor, pleasantness, and peaceful paths (cf. Proverbs 3:16-17). Amen.
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Pastor Lap
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