Valentine's day is over. Approximately 1.9 billion dollars are spent on flowers in the U.S. That is a lot of money. Imagine if that money was used for something that was long-lasting. Flowers are something to be admired in a vase, but as pretty and alive as they may seem, they are actually dead.
There really is no way to calculate the number of different types of roses since they vary on the color spectrum and have different sizes, shapes and petal counts. Some roses are even multi-colored. The flower farms grow all different types of roses. They are 100 percent alive while they are a part of the vine. They feed on the water source from the root of the plant. Once disconnected from the source they are as good as dead. When they are cut from the vine, they are packaged and preserved to decelerate the dying process. They look a little wilted upon arrival, but they are recut and put into water again which appears to bring life back to the flowers.
Once they are arranged in a beautiful vase, they are a site for many people to behold. Roses are a popular gift to show one's admiration or appreciation of another. Especially in relationships. Some men try to escape trouble by buying flowers for their significant other. However, if that is the intent of giving, rather than giving out of gratitude, love and admiration to your significant other, the relationship may be just as dead as the rose itself.
All hope is not lost. There is a way to revive the flower. Grafting is a common technique used for plants. When you graft a rose into another strong root source, you fuse the two together. The two become one, living off one root source. Paul talks about this in Romans 11. He is referring to the Jews and the Gentiles and where some branches were broken off and others were grafted in the place of those. However, Paul states that they are to remember that it is not them who supports themselves but rather the root (Jesus) that supports them and brings life.
When we believe and have faith in Jesus, we are grafted into the Tree of Life. How often do people try to survive life by living according to their own self-will or self-life? We try to fix our relationships with others by putting a band-aid over a bullet wound. We change the water, trim the stem and do everything in our power to fix the issue and revive whatever relationship, career, stature or circumstances in our lives. We struggle and white-knuckle our way through life even though Jesus said that His yoke is easy.
Due to one man's sin, Adam, we are all dead in sin and are separated from God. Just like the cut rose in the vase which can look beautiful for a short time. However, because of one man's sacrifice, the debt for all sins was paid and those who believe by faith are forever grafted into the Tree of Life. They are forever being nourished by the living water of Jesus.
Can you picture what the Tree of Life may look like? Just as there are many different species and colors of roses, there are more people who have taken a step of faith in believing in the one true Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are all image bearers of Jesus. All uniquely different. Each person reflects a different color of his Light into the world. Just as light through a prism. The different colors that come out of the prism all reflect a different color and angle of the One who is the Light.
Have you grown weary in an attempt to hold your life together? Does it seem like that mountain is impassible? Have you tried everything possible and still cannot find the Freedom and Joy in life? Are you selling yourself short from the promise of God? Root yourself in Him.
Colossians 2:6-7 NASB says:
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.
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