Just yesterday, I found a decent looking pear and when I cut into it, I was disappointed to find that it was almost all bad, except for a thin layer on the surface. It was deceptive, maybe like the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, appealing from the outside, but not good at its core, with the consequence of sin for generations. The same can be ascribed to other things in this world that have an outward appearance of something good, but the result of which can bring a person to ruin. I recall people buying a new shiny vehicle they couldn’t afford that also brought strained relationships. A new move and job prospect that didn’t turn out well at all. Taking something to make you feel better that takes control of your life. A relationship outside of marriage that devastated more lives than they imagined. The list goes on of things that look good on the surface that leave us disappointed in the end. I’d much rather have an overlooked pear with a few blemishes that is delicious and filling. What things have you chased after in life have left you disappointed down the road?
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned— Romans 5:12
Sin has corrupted all aspects of our lives when we are left to our own devices. Despite our best efforts, the little empires we build up can come crashing down without much warning. When we look at the amount of sin, greed, hate, and selfishness in the world around us, we might lose hope that anything good can come of it. But, as often is the case, the bad news tends to drown out any good news that happens. There is hope of redemption for our sin and the fallenness in this world, and that hope is Christ. When we surrender our lives to him, He changes our core from something rotten and useless to a fresh fruit that plants new seeds through the Holy Spirit. He transforms us both inwardly and outwardly and how we interact with the world around us. He is the true hope of all nations. We are renewed when we confess our sins and allow him to continually refine us into He wants us to be. Are you now the best version of yourself, or is there still room for growth?
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. Proverbs 28:13
We may never fully realize our potential of who God created us to be in this current broken world, but we can get glimpses of what that could be. We can regularly surrender to Him and allow his Spirit to work in us and refine us as well. As our bodies age and decline over time, we might get discouraged, but we can still be used to produce good fruit that lasts for generations to come. Half the battle is to continually surrender to Christ and allow Him to refine us and realign our priorities into His priorities. May you find hope and joy and good fruit as you allow Him to be your gardener.
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5
Yours in Christ,
Clark
