In John chapter 15, Jesus says that He is the true vine and that we are the branches. Now there are many theological discussions too be had here such as how this passage explains the significant of Israel, or whether or not this passage is speaks of apostate believers. However, these are not the types of discussions that I would like to get into today. It seems that there is a truth that can be very easily recognized from this passage and that can be offered as a challenge to many who may be with or without Christ.
From my experience as a student in his fourth year of college, there have been many challenges and there have been and still remain many unknowns as to what my future might look like. In a sense, there always will be. I have found myself contemplating for hours on end about the things I want to know, the things I want to experience, and the things I want to accomplish. In the midst of this contemplating I have found myself being tempted. The fact that our future is unknown can be a scary thing. I am almost finished with my undergraduate degree in psychology, yet my plans are not clear. I am planning to attend graduate school online, and I am planning to go home and learn the ways of the concrete business that my father owns while doing so. I know that I want to serve Christ with my entire life, but if I am being honest it can be difficult to give God complete control when it comes to the unknowns and my own desires.
Let’s revisit the truth that God is the true vine and that we are His branches. In Him is the only way that we can bear fruit. When I think about my future, I have so many things that are in a sense competing to my vine, if that makes sense. One of these things is my academics and the world of psychology. There are times where I am tempted by the idea that if I make psychology my vine, then I will produce all of this good fruit. I will help all of these people and be viewed as this super intelligent person that has all the answers because he knows so much. Sometimes I am tempted to make money my vine. I am tempted by the idea that if I chose a certain job that I might be able to afford so many of the things that I want to have the money for. I am even tempted by the idea that if I had a certain level of biblical knowledge that I would be able to change so many people’s lives in what I truly want to do, which is Christian counseling. I do not say any of this to mean that I would consciously reject God in making another thing my vine, but what I do mean to say is that we have to be careful because there are things that are constantly trying to tempt us and pull us away from the true vine.
All of the things I mentioned that were knowledge in psychology, money, and knowledge of the Bible are things that can be used for God’s glory. However, none of them will produce any fruit unless you, the branch, is connected to the true vine, which is Jesus. Some things try to tempt you in terms of how others see you, but God says you are loved by Him so why does it matter? Some things try to tempt you in terms of the happiness you think they will bring you, but only true joy comes from the Father. Some things try to tempt you in how much you can accomplish, but truly you cannot accomplish anything a part from Christ. If you know Christ, is there something in your life that is challenging Christ’s place as your vine? If you do not know Christ, will you choose to make Him your vine so that you may abide in His love and so that your joy may be made full?
Journey With John 