We drove to have a socially distant picnic dinner with my parents and siblings yesterday. That was a joy! The visit was at Mapleview Agri – the farm of my sister and her husband.  There the ten of us sat, on the front lawn, surrounded by an abundance of green; deciduous trees, coniferous trees, corn stalks in the field, tall grasses, bales of hay being tossed into the back of a wagon in the field across the country road. There is a lot of green in the countryside! I couldn’t help but further notice this as we began the drive home – field after field of mostly green.

Attentive to colour, as we neared the city, what captured my eye was a new, shiny red building.  It was red, very red.  I don’t think I have ever seen a building that large made with the colour red. What a contrast of colour.

Jeremiah wrote of a sharp contrast, and he used the colour green to illustrate his point.  I don’t think he used it because there was an abundance of green.  I believe green was a colour that stood out in the barren landscape conditions where he lived. His green was like my contrasting red.

Using colour, Jeremiah contrasts the person who trusts in humans and the person who trusts in the LORD.  Catch the word green, and imagine this colour, contrasted with the brown and beige arid land, as you read. 

5)Cursed are those who trust in mere mortals
    and make mere flesh their strength,
    whose hearts turn away from the Lord.
⁶⁾They shall be like a shrub in the desert,
    and shall not see when relief comes.
They shall live in the parched places of the wilderness,
    in an uninhabited salt land.

7) Blessed are those who trust in the Lord,
    whose trust is the Lord.
^8 )They shall be like a tree planted by water,
    sending out its roots by the stream.
It shall not fear when heat comes,
    and its leaves shall stay green;
in the year of drought it is not anxious,
    and it does not cease to bear fruit.  (Jeremiah 17:5-8)

Some days, months, and years, feel like and look like dry desert land.  We don’t like desert life. Jeremiah reminds you and I this morning, and the church of Christ Jesus, that when we trust in the living LORD and make him our entire trust, our lives will continue to bear fruit.  Sending our roots of faith deep, abiding deeply with Jesus, we can be assured that his water of life continues to cause our lives to produce that which is green.  To me it’s a mystery.  Green may not be in abundance in the desert but where there is even small amounts of water it brings forth life.

Speaking of water producing life, let’s read about a festival Jesus attended. “On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. Asthe scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heartshall flow rivers of living water.’”

Picture with me, followers of Jesus as green in colour.  Do you see it?  Believers bear fruit in every season, even in desert like conditions. As I think about this, I even think about children. They need to know of this incredible truth from God’s word.  If you have children, or know children, who would be encouraged by this message – share it!  This song is one our children learned to sing when they were young.  Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeUBnWrh280

Be Like A Tree

I’m gonna be like a tree, planted by the water
Trusting in the Father to keep me strong
I’m gonna be like a tree, planted by the water
Trusting in the name of the Lord

I’m gonna be like a tree, planted by the water
Trusting in the Father to help me grow
I’m gonna be like a tree, planted by the water
Trusting in the name of the Lord

Chorus:
The deeper the roots grow
The better the fruits grow
The blessings bloom out for all to see
The deeper the roots grow
The more of my life shows
That Jesus is the Lord of me, Lord of me

Life-bringing God, our Living Water, there are times when life feels like a desert. We feel like a parched land where grass turns brown and cracks appear in the soil. Remind us that in you there is a constant flowing stream, sometimes small but always mighty, that flows.  That stream is the presence of your spirit that allows us to abide in you, knowing that even in times of drought we are green in colour, bearing fruit, for your honour and glory. AMEN