The Vine and the Branches

John 15:5-7 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Cast out, thrown into a fire, burned. Those words should make us very uncomfortable. But then...abide means to sojourn, remain, be held and kept continually, not departing, continue and endure, remain as one (in Christ), to await. Those definitions, so rich, describe a true believer. Read them again, slowly. 

Do we know we are being held fast by the Savior? 

Do we continue in life with Him close by? 

Do we endure? 

Are we sure we are one in Him? 

Do we look in anticipation either for His imminent return or our death that we might have the assurance of heaven and eternity someday with Him? 

Are we sure we have that assurance? 

Oh, that assurance!

I recently heard this statement: Jesus first came as a loving God. I would add to that: to seek and SAVE the lost (that might be you and was me). He WILL return, as the Bible shows us, to pour out His wrath upon those who have been offended by, have not sought, hated or turned their backs on, Him. Jesus’ nature comprises of both grace, mercy and judgment. We cannot be deceived into believing He is only a loving God and that everyone who we believe is good will enter into heaven some day. (This is a difficult but true statement.) 

If we attend a church but do not hear about sin and repentance, are not told we need to turn to Him, but only how much He loves us, we only see one side of His nature and that can be a slippery slope some day. God does not grade on a curve because one might not be as good as that guy, but certainly not perfect, but better than that reprobate next door. We are all called sinners. Adam sinned in the Garden which caused all of us to have to pay the consequences. But...just as one man sinned, another paid the debt. Christ’s blood only on the cross covers us....not a prayer but heartfelt giving of ourselves to Him. But that blood must be applied spiritually to our hearts. 

So...coming to Christ is a heart issue. Sin is a heart issue. It needs to be changed and transformed. We cannot change our own heart; He must do it. We cannot earn our salvation; it must be received from Christ. In Christ alone. We are simply to humble ourselves before Him and receive Him into our lives. Without Him we are NOTHING. We must be abiding in Him. 

There is a very real enemy (the god of this age...2Cor. 4:4) in this world and he’s getting bolder and also more worried! He’s blinding eyes, stopping up ears and turning hearts away from God and turning them onto the things that we would consider good in this world. He is also aware of the times and the return of his Adversary. When this Adversary returns it will be curtains for him and he does not want to go alone. That’s why he’s turning this world against Jesus, the one true God. And why he is causing destruction in many forms today on this earth. Do not be deceived! Look to God. Seek Him while He may be found. He is the vine and we can be the branches.

You are so worthy, Lord. You came to seek and save the lost and I am so grateful for all You have shown and will always show to me. I am thankful for Your nudging and finally Your Holy Spirit power that dwells in me. Praise You for Your love toward all people and Your wooing of them. Lord, remove the blinders of the blind that they might see; open deaf ears that they might hear; soften prideful or hardened hearts that they might receive and know Your power and forgiveness for sin. You.alone.are.so.worthy.

2Corinthians 4:3-5 - But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.