*Don’t try this at home, kids!*
The first week of summer camp was quickly approaching, and the job of a lifeguard in the weeks leading up to camp, were just about anything and everything… except lifeguarding. The days were filled from start to finish with grounds and landscaping work. We did a little bit of everything from mowing and weed trimming, to clear-cutting and brush clean up, putting docks in the water, shingling roofs, among many other miscellaneous camp responsibilities. The entrance needed to be spruced up, the waterfront needed a new retaining wall, and a new space needed cleaned and clearcut for a sand volleyball court. After a couple of weeks, we had amassed a HUMOUNGUS pile of brush. Now, it had been an extremely hot and abnormally dry summer up to this point. The year was 2012, and to this day ranks in 2nd place for least amount of rainfall in the past 50 years! We acquired the necessary burn permit and set to burn this pile of brush in a controlled manner. The center of the pile was about 100 feet from the forest edge, we started the large water pump in the lake that sat 50 feet in the other direction, and we had a heavy-duty firehose attached to the end of it with the ability to quickly calm the fire. We grabbed the kerosine and drenched the pile, but for some reason had a hard time getting the fire going. So, we stopped and decided to continue the next evening when we had a little more time…The next day brought the same heat and dryness that we had experienced all summer. The temperatures were in the 90s and the sun was beating down. About 200 yards around the edge of the lake, we sat on the docks in the heat of the day, doing our lifeguard duties. When all of a sudden, I hear, “MATT! LOOK!!” My fellow lifeguard had witnessed the massive brush pile spontaneously combust! In seconds the flame was 30 feet high! We blew our whistles, cleared the kids out of the water, ran to the water pump house and fired up the engine, grabbed the hose and fought the edges of the massive blaze to protect the adjacent National Forest! Talk about intense! After a long 15 minutes, we had pumped enough water onto that pile of brush that it made the Niagara Falls look dry. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but what I’m saying is, we were sure that fire wasn’t coming back!
It's pretty amazing how quickly a hot fire can turn a dead branch into nothing but ash. For that’s the only real purpose a dead, useless, fruitless, fallen branch might serve. Dead branches become a nuisance. If they are still on the tree, they hurt the rest of the tree. I don’t understand the science behind it, but when an apple tree Is full of dead branches, the live branches produce very little fruit and the tree becomes less fruitful. Hence, the need for pruning. When a branch is dead and on the ground, it becomes an eyesore and inconvenience when it comes time to pick the fruit. So, what do farmers do with dead branches? They cut them away, pick them up, and throw them into the brush pile to be burned.
Likewise, If we are like branches that decide to “go out on our own limb” ? We won’t bear any fruit. If we don’t want to be a part of the vine, if we are a branch that withers and falls, we too may be picked up and thrown into the brush pile. Hopefully, if you’re reading this devotional today, I would argue that you may care enough about your walk with the Lord to not be associated with those dead branches. But it’s a warning none the less for those that want no part in truly being connected to the vine of Jesus Christ. Rather, my hope for the average devotional reader, for the professing genuine Christian, for you and for me, to see this text as an encouragement, a blessing, and a beautiful reminder. One that tells of our source of life and fruit. One that makes us grateful to be connected to the vine and have the ability to produce fruit. One that can see our source for spiritual nutrients and nourishments in this lifeline connection to our Savior. For if we cannot realize and appreciate that connection, the branch of our lives may be a fruitless end with little blossoms or blooms. Abide in Christ.
The first week of summer camp was quickly approaching, and the job of a lifeguard in the weeks leading up to camp, were just about anything and everything… except lifeguarding. The days were filled from start to finish with grounds and landscaping work. We did a little bit of everything from mowing and weed trimming, to clear-cutting and brush clean up, putting docks in the water, shingling roofs, among many other miscellaneous camp responsibilities. The entrance needed to be spruced up, the waterfront needed a new retaining wall, and a new space needed cleaned and clearcut for a sand volleyball court. After a couple of weeks, we had amassed a HUMOUNGUS pile of brush. Now, it had been an extremely hot and abnormally dry summer up to this point. The year was 2012, and to this day ranks in 2nd place for least amount of rainfall in the past 50 years! We acquired the necessary burn permit and set to burn this pile of brush in a controlled manner. The center of the pile was about 100 feet from the forest edge, we started the large water pump in the lake that sat 50 feet in the other direction, and we had a heavy-duty firehose attached to the end of it with the ability to quickly calm the fire. We grabbed the kerosine and drenched the pile, but for some reason had a hard time getting the fire going. So, we stopped and decided to continue the next evening when we had a little more time…The next day brought the same heat and dryness that we had experienced all summer. The temperatures were in the 90s and the sun was beating down. About 200 yards around the edge of the lake, we sat on the docks in the heat of the day, doing our lifeguard duties. When all of a sudden, I hear, “MATT! LOOK!!” My fellow lifeguard had witnessed the massive brush pile spontaneously combust! In seconds the flame was 30 feet high! We blew our whistles, cleared the kids out of the water, ran to the water pump house and fired up the engine, grabbed the hose and fought the edges of the massive blaze to protect the adjacent National Forest! Talk about intense! After a long 15 minutes, we had pumped enough water onto that pile of brush that it made the Niagara Falls look dry. Well, that might be an exaggeration, but what I’m saying is, we were sure that fire wasn’t coming back!
It's pretty amazing how quickly a hot fire can turn a dead branch into nothing but ash. For that’s the only real purpose a dead, useless, fruitless, fallen branch might serve. Dead branches become a nuisance. If they are still on the tree, they hurt the rest of the tree. I don’t understand the science behind it, but when an apple tree Is full of dead branches, the live branches produce very little fruit and the tree becomes less fruitful. Hence, the need for pruning. When a branch is dead and on the ground, it becomes an eyesore and inconvenience when it comes time to pick the fruit. So, what do farmers do with dead branches? They cut them away, pick them up, and throw them into the brush pile to be burned.
Likewise, If we are like branches that decide to “go out on our own limb” ? We won’t bear any fruit. If we don’t want to be a part of the vine, if we are a branch that withers and falls, we too may be picked up and thrown into the brush pile. Hopefully, if you’re reading this devotional today, I would argue that you may care enough about your walk with the Lord to not be associated with those dead branches. But it’s a warning none the less for those that want no part in truly being connected to the vine of Jesus Christ. Rather, my hope for the average devotional reader, for the professing genuine Christian, for you and for me, to see this text as an encouragement, a blessing, and a beautiful reminder. One that tells of our source of life and fruit. One that makes us grateful to be connected to the vine and have the ability to produce fruit. One that can see our source for spiritual nutrients and nourishments in this lifeline connection to our Savior. For if we cannot realize and appreciate that connection, the branch of our lives may be a fruitless end with little blossoms or blooms. Abide in Christ.