“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” 1 John 5:19
Cover via Amazon
I am a fan of the Patrick O’Brian nautical series of Captain Jack Aubrey and Dr. Stephen Maturin and the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. I had not watched the movie or read one of the books in a while. So, I was appreciative of an opportunity that arose over the Christmas break.
In a discussion about the actors that we enjoy and appreciate, I discovered that my in-laws had never watched the Master and Commander movie with Russell Crowe. It was a perfect excuse to introduce them to the Patrick O’Brian story and be transported to another time and world.
When we watched the movie, I was delighted to be reminded of one of my favorite lines.
Maturin and Aubrey had returned to the Galapagos Islands to allow Maturin to do more investigating.
Dr. Stephen Maturin: “Jack, I fear you have burdened me with a debt I can never fully repay.”
Capt. Jack Aubrey: “Nonsense! Name a shrub after me. Something prickly and hard to eradicate.”
I love that attitude – “name a weed after me”. Who wants a weed named after them? There are not very many people who would be comfortable with their legacy being associated with a prickly and hard to eradicate weed.
However, have you ever considered what a weed is?
I have planted a lot of grass in my lawn. I go to great extents to water, mow, and fertilize my grass. However, when that same grass gets into my walkway, it is a weed and I try to eradicate it.
I have planted rose bushes in our flower beds. They need a lot of work; pruning, herbicides, fertilizer. Yet, I have a wild rose-bush that is growing along our ditch bank that I burn every year, periodically spray it with Roundup; I try to eradicate it because its location makes it a weed to me.
I planted an entire row of elm trees as a wind break. Since they have matured, I pull up elm tree sprouts all along my house foundation and out in my yard. Those little sprouts, which I initially spent money to buy, are now a weed because I don’t want any more elm trees.
A weed is classified as a matter of context. The gardener determines what is and is not a weed. The gardener determines what plant is valued and what is considered a noxious growth.
Have you ever considered what you are in this world?
Who is the gardener of this world? At this time, our enemy, the evil one, is the gardener of this world. That makes every follower of Christ a weed in this world.
Weeds (Photo credit: Tobyotter)
I am a weed.
The reason that I don’t fit into this world is because I am a weed.
The reason some view me as odd is because I am a weed.
The reason that I am unappreciated is because I am a weed.
The reason that some treat me with disdain is because I am a weed.
The reason some consider me uneducated or intellectually inferior is because I am a weed.
The reason some want to legislate away my beliefs is because I am a weed.
Since I am a weed, what kind of weed am I?
I am hard to eradicate – “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38);
I have a bad fragrance – “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16);
I am prickly – “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!” (Luke 6:22)
I am a weed in this world by definition. The reason I am a weed is because this world’s gardener is not my gardener.
My Gardener views me as a beautiful sprout of wheat, a fragrant flower, a productive olive tree, a fruitful grape vine. In my Gardener’s eye, I am valued; I am the plant to be nurtured, protected, fed, watered, and pruned.
In my Gardener’s eye, this world is full of weeds to me; weeds that threaten to choke and stifle my growth.
“As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” (Matthew 13:22)
There is a day of harvest coming. On that day, the distinction between wheat and weed will be made. On that day, my Gardener will be the one making the plant classifications. On that day, His classification is what will matter and those known to Him as a wheat will be harvested and those unknown to Him will be weeds to be burned. (Matt. 13:36-43)
Until that day, I can think of no higher honor than for this world to view my legacy as nothing more than a weed.
I will be thrilled to be viewed as a prickly, stinky, weed that is hard to eradicate.
I know who values me.
I know who is nurturing me.
I know who is pruning me.
I know my Gardener and He knows me.
…And that is all that matters.
PRAYER: Jesus, Thank you for being my Gardener. Lord thank you for caring for me. Forgive me for periodically forgetting who I really am. Forgive me for thinking that being a weed is preferable. Lord, care for me so that I will produce fruit in abundance to your praise and glory. Amen
A DEVOTED LIFE 