Redwood trees

 The Redwood forest has an amazing design. Did you know that in order for it to prosper fire is needed? You see, when the fire comes it destroys the smaller trees and underbrush that threaten to take over the forest. If these trees and brush were allowed to grow up, when fire did come there would be complete and utter devastation to the entire forest.   What most people do not know (unless you are a biologist) is that the bark on the trunk of the tree is very specifically designed to repel the fire. The fire can pass through and not harm the tree what so ever-it only brings nutrients back to the soil so that the roots can grow deeper and the tree will be more healthy. Man has messed up how nature works, and has minimized the amount of fire that comes through the Redwood forest because it appears to man that it would be bad, and nothing good could come of it. But man is wrong-now, when a fire will come the fire will burn the tall trees and underbrush and the fire will reach the crown of the Redwood tree. The crown of the redwood is not fire retardant and the whole forest will go up like a matchstick destroying everything in its path.

This is very similar to what our lives are like. As humans, we are afraid of fire and run from it at all costs. It is painful, it leaves scars, and we think it does us no good. But that is what man thinks, not what God thinks.   In God’s eyes fire is what brings life and restoration to us; and boy do we need that. Yes, it is a painful process and it is not enjoyable by any means. But it is needed if we are going to be the person God wants us to be-if we are going to have a Christ-like character so that we can produce much fruit! This year I have been thrown into the fire and it is hard, and I do not like it. But I am willing to endure it and to see how God grows me through this. God is faithful and if we are open to him he will renew us, he will teach us what is right, pure and holy. He will do a great work in us if only we are open to the fire that he puts us before.

If we do not let the fire come when God tells us that it needs to come, it can bring devastation to our lives later on.   Because, at some point, trials and tribulations will come and we will not have the character to endure them-we will struggle more than God ever intended us to. I know I do not want that.

Let me tell you about another tree called the Jack Pine. In order for this tree to produce any fruit and grow into a healthy tree fire MUST come. The cones are dependent on the fire to open them up so that the seeds can be dispersed. Not only is the tree dependent on the fire, so is the Kirkland Warbler (an endangered bird). This bird nests in the Jack Pines of a specific height (5-6ft tall; aka a young tree), and because fire has not been allowed to come the bird has nowhere to nest and thus their numbers have decreased.

By not letting the fire enter our lives, we can potentially negatively affect a lot of people around us who needed us in their lives to help them grow in Christ. But, since we have ignored God we will have no, or greatly reduced, effect on them.   By not letting the fire come we are being selfish to ourselves (in the long run) and to others.

Meshack, Shadrack and Abednego were literally willing to go into the fire for God and God was faithful. This fire is not literal, but it still hurts the same way at times…I pray that I can have the faith of these three men to allow God to work in me and use me so that I may produce much fruit and grow a Christ-like character.