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In John 15:1-2, the apostle quoted Jesus as saying,
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch
in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away." I have read that
this phrase translated "takes away" is best translated
"lifts up." One Bible student points out that this is the way
this word is used in at least 8 out of 24 occurrences in the gospel of
John. "Lift up" is a possible meaning for this word because it
is a standard practice in vineyards to lift up fallen vines so they can
begin to bear fruit again.
When Christians are consciously sinning and not
bearing fruit, God at some point steps in to lift them up. Why He does
not do this immediately is hidden in His own wise and loving purposes.
God has several different ways to bring the wayward believer back to the
fold.
In 1 Kings 19:2-18, God restored one of His
prophets. The prophet Elijah was a part of God's great victory on Mount
Carmel (1 Kin. 18), and it appeared that everything was going great. But
then Jezebel vowed to take Elijah's life and he fled, discouraged and
scared. He actually pleaded with God to take his life! That's how
disillusioned he was.
God demonstrated His love and concern for Elijah
(vv.5-7) by sending an angel to feed him twice. Once it was "the
angel of the Lord," the Son of God. God also allowed him to sleep so
that he could get his strength back. He had to have realized that God was
graciously providing for him.
Sometimes God so visibly demonstrates His great love
for fallen believers that their problem quickly goes away. Disappointed
believers become convinced that God really loves and cares about them.
God's provision was not sufficient for Elijah, so God overwhelmed him
with a tremendous display of His power (vv.8-14).
Elijah traveled 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb,
which is also known as Mount Sinai. It was here that Moses received the
Ten Commandments and saw the glory of God (Ex. 33:17-23). In the very same
cave, Elijah stood by as God dazzled him with a tremendous display of His
power first a strong wind, then an earthquake, and finally a fire.
Sometimes God impresses erring Christians with His
incredible power so that whatever disappointed them is no longer a
problem. Those who wondered what in the world God was doing, or if God
was really in control, suddenly realize that God is able to do whatever
He desires and that He is doing just that. In Elijah's case, even God's
power was not enough, so God encouraged him with the support of other
godly men (vv.15-18).
Elijah was sent by God to anoint two new kings who
would help him in his campaign against Baal worship. God also instructed
him to anoint another prophet, Elisha, who would help and support him,
and eventually succeed him. Finally, God informed Elijah that there were
still 7,000 people in Israel who were loyal to the true God. All of this
was carefully calculated to encourage Elijah by showing him that God
really was supporting him.
Sometimes God encourages the discouraged believer
with wonderful displays of His support. When this happens, that person is
no longer disappointed because he sees that God is helping him and will
continue to do so.
As a result of God's manifestation of His love, power,
and support, Elijah was restored and went back to faithfully serving God
with his life.
Unfortunately, even when God clearly displays His
love, power, and support, some wayward believers fail to come back. Then
God has to take more painful measures.
In Hebrews 12:4-11, the writer warned that those
"whom the Lord loves He disciplines" (v.6). God disciplines
those who belong to Him when they refuse to do what is right. In fact, He
even "scourges" those who require more severe discipline. The
word scourge may refer to a whip lashing. How God does this varies from
person to person. He knows how to get a person's attention and to lash
him where it will be most effective in bringing him back.
The fact that God disciplines a person is a clear
indication that he is part of God's family (v.7). If a person continues
in deliberate sin and no severe discipline is forthcoming, it indicates
that that person is illegitimate (v.8).
Normally, when God disciplines a person, "it
yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (v.11). However, there
are some erring believers who still will not respond.
God's plans never fail. When He sets out to restore
a wayward believer, He does so. But God may have to bring that person
home to glory to do it. If a Christian continues to refuse a close walk
with God on earth, then God may bring him home to heaven where complete
restoration will occur (1 Cor. 5:5; 11:29-30; 1 John 5:16).
I have often wondered why God does not seem to call
home more Christians who are consciously sinning. It doesn't appear that
God is really doing this on a regular basis, but maybe He is. It may not
always be apparent who is willfully sinning, and only God knows why
Christians die when they do. And if He lets sinning Christians live, it
is because He is incredibly gracious and longsuffering. Undoubtedly He
puts up with people and their sin much longer than His followers would.
Believers cannot discount the grace of God nor presume upon it.
But, we, as believers, can be thankful that we serve
a God that is patient and full of grace and mercy. None of us are
perfect. We need to always remember that God only disciplines us because
He loves us and wants us to draw closer to Him.
Curtis
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