Have you become a “new creation”, changed to your core and in your very essence, by One who has planted the seed of His Holy Spirit deep in the soil of your heart? Do you believe that God can not only make YOU into someone who reflects the image of His Son, but also work in and through you to birth that new life in those around you?
This gardening theme has been applicable in so many ways in recent weeks, to provide word pictures to amplify Biblical truths such as these. When Jesus told Nicodemus that no one could “see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (in John 3:3), it seemed to mystify Nicodemus (a Pharisee who would have known all about what it supposedly meant to know God), since he didn’t understand that Jesus was not talking about a physical rebirth, but a spiritual one. He could tell that Jesus was an important person, but his tendency to look primarily at the physical reality around him prevented him from seeing the spiritual reality staring him in the face. There was a seed of Truth lying beneath the surface, but it had not sprung to life yet.
Varieties
Recently it became apparent that a bold Hosta plant was growing and about to bloom in my garden. There are very many varieties of Hostas, but I only have had one medium sized and variegated type (green, with streaks of white throughout) in my garden for years. This year, there is suddenly a completely green, large version of this plant growing among the others. I have absolutely no memory of planting that one, although it’s possible I had come across a plant like that, taken a shoot, stuck it in the ground and it grew (Hostas could root in that way, being a very agreeable little plant). The more likely scenario is that somehow one of the seeds from a Hosta in my garden or a neighbor’s germinated, and that seed was of the dominant version, and had grown up, having those larger completely green leaves. The regular large green leaved variety on the left below, and the smaller variegated leaved ones (with white and green leaves) on the right:
Plants are so interesting this way. Not all types can do this, but there are some that can be deliberately made to produce offspring that are different than the original, although similar–perhaps with a different color leaf or flower, etc. Plants like hostas, hydrangeas, begonias and many others. Such beautiful varieties result from this hybridization (cross pollinating plants with different characteristics). Another interesting thing is that several varieties of plants or trees can be changed into new types by “grafting”, where the regular stock at the base is cut in a certain way, and the desired variety is put into that spot and begins to grow, taking its nourishment from the main plant. We have a beautiful lilac that is such a type. In these trees and shrubs, it is important not to let lower branches start to grow at the bottom, because they will revert back to the original stock of a regular lilac, and the shrub’s energy will not be directed to the desired flowers of the specific variety. Sort of similar to that sturdy large “regular” Hosta springing up in the midst of the smaller, more colorful ones, Here’s a picture of the beautiful blooms of that hybrid lilac:
Nourishment
I find it so intertesting that Paul uses a similar illustration to show our heritage as Christians (using an olive tree to illustrate), as having been “grafted in” to Israel. He says (in Romans 11:16-21):
“If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, ‘Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.’ Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.”
This passage comes up as Paul is trying to show that the Gentiles became part of God’s promise, just as Israel had been, and to warn the new believers not to fall into the same disobedient unbelief as those in the Jewish community at that time who refused to believe in Jesus. He saw the Gentiles as being a “wild olive shoot” that was graciously placed into that true olive tree (Jesus) and allowed to be nourished by the same sap as the original branches.
Jesus speaks of Himself as being the “vine” and believers being the “branches” in John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
It’s the same idea. He’s the main life source at the foundation, and without the nourishing sap from Him, we would be tossed aside and whither like a branch that has been cut from a tree or vine. At that point, there’s no life in such twigs or branches, and the most likely use for them is for fire kindling. He’s committed to producing new life.
One Flesh
I was recently pondering a very intriguing Bible passage that seems a bit enigmatic. It’s in a portion of scripture where Paul is talking about husbands and wives and their various responsibilities and roles. And then he suddenly shifts gears and states the ultimate reason for his analogy.
“In this same wqy, husbands ought to love their wives, as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church–for we are members of his body. ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.’ This is a profound mystery–but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (Ephesians 5:29-33)
He’s talking about Christ and the Church … becoming one flesh….
Now, I don’t want to get graphic here, so you can take or leave this, but think about the intimate connections between husband and wife, and how a loving and healthy relationship should work, with both caring for the other’s needs and pleasing each other. When a husband and wife get married, their lives really do intertwine, and neither one lives on their own. Their actions affect each other in many ways, and they become “one”, just as Jesus is “one” with His Church, and He and the Father are “one” (He talks a lot about this in the book of John, especially 17:18-21).
That’s one of the reasons that the marriage relationship is so very sacred, because it illustrates the union between God and His Church.
During that time of pondering, another thought also became clear… When there is a physical union between husband and wife, there is a mystical, almost miraculous result…. A baby. A new person. That little one is truly the result of the parents becoming “one flesh” in the creation of that new little one. That baby literally is the combination of those two people. The flesh of the two becomes “one flesh”.
Who knows if this is part of what Paul was getting at, but doesn’t it stand to reason that as Christ and the Church are in union, new life will result? Not only the new life in the believer (being “born again), but also in the others who may be “born” spiritually, as that believer (with the motivation and empowerment of the Holy Spirit) shares his or her faith with others.
And taking the analogy of husband, wife and offspring a bit more profoundly, the intimate connection between father and mother can be filled with pleasure and pain, and the road to the child’s ultimate birth (and beyond) are also filled with the same (highs and lows, joy and grief). Sort of like the Christian life from the perspective of the believer. There are moments of wonder and ecstasy, as well as deep, profound sorrow during the entire life process, as we identify with Jesus in His death so that we can share in His resurrection (Philippians 3:10-11).
After all, Jesus is the first “one flesh”, of God and man. The Holy Spirit (God) overshadowed Mary (representing Man in this relationship) and one new being became the firstborn of all creation. A great mystery indeed, and the only hope that we sinners have of ultimately being able to be truly united with God in all His perfection. As it says, of Jesus: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
(Colossians 1:15)
In Christ
So now, because of His grace, sacrifice and payment for our sin, we are able to be “one” with Jesus, a new person “in Him”. Our lifeblood flows from His veins now, that nourishing sap that supports our life.
“So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”
(2 Cor 5:16-17)
New Life
So, I ask you again, have you become a “new creation”? Have you been changed to your core and in your very essence, by One who has planted the seed of His Holy Spirit deep in the soil of your heart? Do you believe that God can not only make YOU into someone who reflects the image of His Son, but also work in and through you to birth that new life in those around you? That is his ultimate desire for you. He is not willing that ANY would perish (2 Peter 3:9), and that includes YOU, my friend.
If you answered YES! to those questions above, then by all means rejoice! You are not alone walking on this path of Life. The Holy One is ONE with you, and will give you the strength and guidance you need to walk each day. I pray that you will find encouragement and strength in that truth.
If you answered “no”, or just look at the words above in the same mystified way that Nicodemus looked at Jesus’ encouragement to be “born again”, and if you WANT to come to know Him and be one with Him, and you WANT to have your life renewed in Jesus so that you can “see the kingdom of God”…. It is actually quite simple. Not “easy”, but simple…. Put your faith in Jesus Christ and say “yes” to Him; submit to Him as your Lord and your Savior, even if you don’t fully understand what that means yet. Seek Him (and if you’ve read or listened this far and have answered that question with a “no”, my guess is that you ARE seeking Him, so KEEP IT UP!!! Seek Him and you will find Him… (Actually, it’s probably more that He has been seeking and has found YOU, my friend.)
Reach out to a trusted Christian friend to help you grow in your faith, or let me know and I’ll try to point you in the direction that will help you draw near to Him daily.
Loving You
The closing music on the podcast version of this episode is from the Painter of the Heavens CD, published by and available through Loving Grace Ministries (https://www.lovinggrace.org). It is a song written by my husband, called “Loving You”, which is simply a beautiful love song to the Lord. It’s the simple oneness with Jesus that flows into our own spiritual rebirth and that impacts those around us. I pray that as you contemplate all these things, that you will simply draw near to the One Who loves you so.
To check out the CD, here is a direct link: