Uprooted

A few days ago a strong thunderstorm passed through our area overnight. In the morning, the destruction caused by the storm was evident to all. Branches were ripped from the trees and debris was spread everywhere. This morning I saw a tree that was at least 100 feet tall and had a diameter of at least 4 feet that was uprooted by the storm and laying across someone’s yard. Thankfully, I have not heard of any injuries caused by the thunderstorm.

We saw several other uprooted trees as we drove through town. They all had one thing in common, a shallow root system. People can be like these trees by not developing strong character through wisdom and faith. Jude 8 describes this type of person when it says, “Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones.”

We cannot build faith and understand wisdom by relying only on our own limited understanding. The wisdom of God is much deeper and has the power to build us up into the people God designed us to be. Our limited understanding leaves us defenseless against the storms of life and does nothing to build our character so that we please God.

A few verses later, Jude 12 gives us the results of trusting in our own understanding, “These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves, waterless clouds, swept along by winds, fruitless trees in late autumn, uprooted.” Trusting in our own understanding gives meaningless lives built upon the fads of culture. This type of life is without substance and is not beneficial to anyone. In the end this person is completely uprooted and tossed by the winds of society.

Participate wholeheartedly in the things that build faith and character from God’s perspective. Cast out the things that tear down faith and godly character.