Challenged to Be Grounded

Revelation 7:11
And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living beings. And they fell before the throne with their faces to the ground and worshiped God.

Ever been in an argument where you were forced to stand your ground?  You knew you were right and the other person just refused to give in.  A frustration arises in you as you argue back in forth trying to make your point.  Both of you begin to find offenses with the other and before you know it you go away from the situation angry, even if you were in the right.  Why does this happen over and over again when dealing with people?  Why does it seem like we always have to be right no matter what?  How many families are disconnected because of such arguments?

I wish for a moment we could imagine ourselves as the trees planted by the water along the river as it states in Jeremiah 17:8 “They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”  If we could just find contentment among our brothers and sisters and agree to disagree before the big blow outs erupt and cause damage to our lives.  If only we could find peace in disagreement, what  better place we would find ourselves.

What a reflection we would be to those who are watching us from afar trying to decide if this Christian walk is something they want for their lives.  How enticing would it be if they always saw us in disagreement about this and that?  Would they even give it a second thought?  I guess where I am going with this is simple, we as Christians argue about this religion and that. This rule and regulation.  Celebrating or not the various holidays.  Arguing about the politics of the church.  Do I need to go any further?

If we all believe in God and have accepted Jesus as our Savior, then why cannot we get along?  It matters not what you label me:  Pentecostal, Methodist, Baptist…underneath the title of the church…I am a Jesus Freak and I am saved by grace.  Being a Methodist did not save me.  Going to a Baptist church did not clinch my salvation. And certainly being a member of a Pentecostal church does not solidify that I am going into heaven when I die.  The only thing which makes it possible for me to enter those pearly gates is accepting Jesus into my heart.

Nothing else can do it.  Not random acts of kindness or over the top giving in the offering plate.  Even total commitment to serving others will not be enough.  We cannot get to heaven by being good or on our best behavior.  Only through His Son will we be accepted. It does not matter to God what denomination you belonged to, it only matters who you choose to be ruler of your heart.  Let us be like the trees and become rooted in the things of God starting with choosing His Son as the ruler of our hearts so that we may be saved.

If you look closely at the picture above, you will see it is actually upside down. We should be a reflection of God’s goodness as we are rooted by the river.  People should be able to see our reflection when they are looking down so that when their gaze is turned upwards to see the source of the reflection, they will find God.  So stand your ground.  Be rooted in the fertile ground of salvation, but be not arrogant or consumed with frustration when others do not see your point of view.  Be a fruitful tree.