Christians are very concerned with sin. We see its damaging effects, and it seems only natural to assume that sin is the problem. But like the rust fungus I described in Part 1, sin is only the symptom–the expression of our root nature.
This is important, so I will use the metaphor of the rust fungus further. When the fungus is present, the vine can’t help but expose its presence when the leaves burst forth come spring. It might try, if it could, to repress it, but it’s irrepressible. It’s there–always there.
The remedy for both the infected vine and our sin nature is the same: start new. It seems like a lot of work, and it would have been impossible had not Christ done the work for us by taking our root nature to the cross.
When we choose life through Christ, our old nature is not only dethroned, but we become partakers of His nature–a pure rootstock without disease. What comes from this new rootstock of Christ’s? The fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, patience and self-control.
“Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7 NLT
I recently returned to the berry farm I visited last year, and the rows of berries were gone. Every last olallieberry vine had been uprooted and destroyed–the only remedy.
By Carolyn Cote
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