Skip to main content

An Absence of Essence

I read an article recently about flowers in which a chemist works with the enticing floral aromas which will be used in perfumes. Tucked away in the article was this finding; while doing her research, the chemist discovered that the instant a rose is cut from the bush, it’s fragrance is altered. I found that to be amazing and profound. Imagine, cutting a rose from it’s vine or bush, immediately changes it’s fragrance.


How about me? What happens to me when I am cut or separated from “the Vine”? In John, Jesus teaches a powerful lesson about being either attached to or separated from Jesus, the Vine.


“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. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; and you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love.” John 15:1-9


Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing! I am just like the rose, which when severed from the vine, it’s source of life, it’s whole being is changed. Not only is the fragrance of the rose altered the moment it is severed from the vine, it’s ability to bear more roses is forever more gone. Jesus is my source and separated from him, I too, cease to be a sweet smelling aroma to God, and my ability to bear fruit (love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control Galatians 5:22-23) is gone.


There are two ways to become separated from the Source. I can either sever myself or be pruned by the Gardener if I am unfruitful. Either way is devastating! I want to remain attached and joined to to his life-giving power. Praise be to God that I am His and by his grace and mercy, I can remain in Him. Any more, I don’t even want to try and do anything on my own. I know that “apart from him I can do nothing” and apart from him I am nothing. My whole purpose in this life is to emit the sweet smell of Christ who offers hope, life, and forgiveness and bear that fruit that resembles him.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Corinthians 2:14-15


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If I'd Only Known

It seemed innocent enough.   I simply clicked on a link that a friend had posted on Facebook.   The link was about homeschooling.   Specifically, why one would be “crazy” enough to choose that option for their children?   For many reasons, the subject always interests me, but because I have a sister with nine children that she homeschools, I find it even more intriguing.   I find the whole “lots of kids, stay at home mom, homeschooling culture” fascinating.   I am in awe of these Godly parents who dedicate their lives to raising Godly children.   Yes, it fascinates me, but there is another effect that it has on me.   As I scrolled thru this site with beautiful pictures of sweet children reading under trees, working in gardens, and homes decidedly dedicated to the home school effort.   I wept.   It was totally unexpected.   I was overcome with emotion.   Now why would a sixty-year-old woman, long past chil...
1 comment
Read more

Ring, Ring

My track record with cell phones is less than stellar! I go thru phones at a very unacceptable rate. Their demise is due to a variety of reasons. My last phone prior to my moving into the “smart phone” world survived a dip in the toilet and a night out on the trail in the snow. The fact that it still worked was miraculous. Last year I was due for an upgrade and I decided I was ready for a smart phone. I got one of the new Droids. What an amazing device! However, I soon discovered that smart phones are very moisture sensitive among other things. About three months after getting my new Droid, I put it in my back jeans pocket and you guessed it, plunk, in the toilet. I got it out super quick but to no avail. It was dead! No problem, I had insurance. So, a trip to the Verizon store and $89 later I had a brand new Droid. The salesman did caution me that I was only allowed two insurance claims on the life of the phone, so “be careful with this one”, he said. All was well un...
2 comments
Read more

Better Than Ever

Although it sounds like an understatement, when I severely broke my ankle, it hurt.  Same thing with my wrist.  The body immediately reacts to a fractured bone.  Pain is immediate and severe.  Swelling and discoloration follow.  The bone, once whole and intact, is now damaged and misaligned.  That bone now has to be fixed and heal.   In my case both of these breaks reqired surgery complete with metal plates and screws.  The surgeries were followed by more pain, weeks in a cast, doctor's appointments to monitor the healing process, and intense physical therapy.  In addition to all that there was the annoyance and inconvenience of not being able to perform the daily tasks of living. Dependance on someone else to help with even the simplest task is not easy for me.  The good news is that now healed they tell me that those bones are stronger then ever.  Mere bone, as miraculous and complicated as it is, is now reinforced with titanium....
1 comment
Read more