The Tree That Could Not Stand

The Tree That Could Not Stand

On Monday, outside Ashingdon Elim, a tree that had stood tall for years was lying flat on the ground. The wind had blown, the trunk had split, and all that remained standing was a stump.

From the outside, the tree had looked strong and healthy. Yet as I drew closer, I could see the truth: the inside was damp, and damaged. What appeared sturdy had been decaying from within for some time. The strong wind had revealed what was already there.

It reminded me of the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT): "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ... But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish... When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."

That fallen tree is a picture of many lives. Outwardly, they look successful, confident, and strong. But inside, unseen by others, they are weakened by compromise, guilt, or sin. When life's storms come - and they always do - the true condition of the heart is revealed.

Paul encourages us in Colossians 2:7 (NLT): "Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."

A tree with shallow roots and a rotten core cannot stand. In the same way, if our lives are not rooted in Christ, we will be easily shaken. But when we plant ourselves firmly in Him, even if storms come, we remain unmovable because His strength holds us.

That stump reminded me of a sobering truth: storms do not create weakness - they expose it. Yet the gospel gives us hope. Jesus can heal what is broken within. He can replace a damp, damaged heart with one that is alive and new.

Friend, the wind will blow. The question is not whether storms will come, but whether we will stand. Choose today to root yourself deeply in Christ - the Rock that cannot be moved.