The Root of the Cross

Job 14:9

As I was mowing the other day, I couldn’t help but notice how dry it is. Especially after having a couple of years of record rainfall. But in the Sandhills it doesn’t take long for the surface to dry out and the grass begins to turn brown. But another thing I notice is that the trees are looking healthier than ever. I begin to ponder the difference between the flourishing tree and dying grass. I believe the difference is the depth of the roots!

The Church, I believe, is in the midst of a dry spell. After the last few decades of church growth, we are now experiencing the lowest in church attendance than we’ve seen since right after the Revolutionary War. In fact, we are experiencing the lowest of interest in spiritual things now that many are referring themselves as the Nones, which means they do not identify with any religious group or ideas.

It seems that the conditions throughout our culture in the last year has gotten many feeling spiritually low. But according to our scripture text, if anyone has a desire for God, then with just the scent of water, their roots will grow as deep as necessary to soak up the life of Christ and flourish in dry seasons. Just like the trees are healthy, only those who are deeply rooted in Christ will produce fruit in times of testing. They are not like those described by Jesus in Matthew that says “yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” (Matthew 13:21) No, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” (Psalm 92:12) Just like plants that have shallow roots can’t flourish in droughts, neither can shallow Christian's flourish either. But in times like this when God’s people are being tested, the righteous seems to flourish more abundantly against the backdrop of spiritual decay.

Our prayer should be that God would plant us that our roots would grow deep and that we would bear fruit upward. (Isaiah 37:11) We should ask that he would make us to be like “A tree that’s planted by the rivers of water which will bear fruit in it season, and that it’s lead will never fade, and whatsoever we do will prosper.” (Psalms 1:3)

Isaiah said, “The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)During certain seasons a dry East wind would blow and bring severe droughts in Israel. Isaiah said that just like that eastern wind, the spirit of God would blow upon the grass and plants and cause them to wither. He also said that “The people are grass.” (40:7) But in contrast to the people, the word of the Lord endured forever!

There is a tree that has endured the test of time. That tree is The Cross! The root of the cross runs deep into the heart of God and from that fertile crescent flows a life and love that will never die. For that root is Christ! (Isaiah 11:1) The cross and the people of the cross have endured challenging times over the last two thousand years and did not only survive, but thrived through them, flourishing, bringing honor and glory to God, and hope to the world in the midst of a crises.

Pastor Robby