Finding Protection from the Elements

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” (John 15:4-8 NIV)

My wife and I love garden-grown tomatoes. We learned several years ago that cherry tomatoes do much better in our cooler, wetter mountain climate than do the larger varieties. This year, one potted plant was producing delicious fruit (yes, tomatoes are fruit!) and almost daily we were in heaven enjoying our little harvest. Then, in early September, a cold snap was predicted.  Temperatures were to dip into the upper 30’s, which would likely weaken the plant and end it’s ability to produce more fruit. Yet, the plant was full of little green tomatoes and we wanted badly for them to ripen. 

So we devised a plan: Every evening we would put the plant in the garage to protect it from the cold and then put it outside again the next day as it warmed up.  We have been doing that for several weeks now and it has worked brilliantly!  That plant doesn’t look too good with its yellowish and brownish leaves, but almost every day, we are able to pick a handful of luscious red tomatoes.

What we have done with that plant is to nurture it in the midst of the elements. We have given it the best opportunity to produce fruit by protecting it and giving it the best environment in which to continue to flourish.  In essence, Jesus describes the same thing for us in nurturing our spiritual lives.  

The world can be a harsh, cold place, where the elements (stress and worry, distractions, temptations, and bad influences) can threaten to lessen or even destroy our ability to produce fruit. Thus, as were my wife and I with our tomato plant, we have to be proactive to protect our lives from the threatening elements and intentional about creating the optimal environment for us to continue to thrive.

The Lord said that environment consists of being very close to Him. As long as we are maintaining a connection to Him, we are safe and will be productive. What we cannot do is to assume we are impervious to the spiritual elements that seek to steal, kill, and destroy our fruit and our very lives. (John 10:10) We must seek protection from them and put ourselves in the most ideal environment in which to grow. And that is being close to Him—in prayer, in His Word, and in authentic fellowship with other believers. It is in this setting that we will be nurtured and where we can continue to grow and produce the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). 

Today, consider what kind of environment you are placing yourself in. Is it the type that will protect you from the destructive elements and will nurture your growth?  If not, then perhaps it’s time to be proactive and make a plan to protect yourself and find a much safer, more nurturing place—close to the Lord.

© Jim Musser 2017