TWEEEEET!!!! At the shrill whistle of the lifeguards, the pools would clear out, leaving only a few adults in the water and sending all of us kids to our towels for some Red Vines, crackers and Easy Cheese, and Capri Suns. For the next ten minutes we would snack, enjoy the summer sunshine, and chat until the whistles blew again indicating that we were cleared to go back in the water of the town pool, where we would stay until forced to leave again. Were it not for the obligatory rest (snack) time each hour, I would have remained in the pool from the moment we arrived until forced to leave by my mom or accompanying adult. There was simply no better summer activity.
Ezekiel didn’t quite see a public pool in the vision he recorded in chapter 47 of his book, but he did see plenty of water. It starts as a trickle, but eventually deepens enough to swim in. In this river Ezekiel finds every type of aquatic creature, and, nourished by the soil on the river’s fertile banks, trees flourish. “Everywhere the river goes,” Ezekiel says, “there will be life” (v. 9). This river pictures life in the Kingdom of Christ: full, abundant, never-ending, free from the contamination of sin. I don’t know about you, but I would love to get into this river and never get out.
Of course, one day that dream will become a reality in all its perfection. However, even today, we can take our shoes off and begin to wade in the current. In fact, Jesus expects us to do just this. In talking with His disciples the night before He would be crucified, He uses the metaphor of a vine and calls them to abide in Him. That call echoes in our ears today, and Jesus promises that the results of abiding in Him—of staying in the water—will be worth every second.
You’ll Reap Fruit
I’m not a farmer, but even I know that without the yield of crops, a harvest is worthless. A corn stalk that grows six feet high but has no corn does the farmer no good. Likewise, an apple tree, mighty and picturesque, that grows only mealy, inedible apples is useless. A farmer would be justified to cut it down and start again. Jesus warns His disciples that they will become like these useless branches if they fail to produce fruit (John 15:6). But this failure isn’t because they aren’t skilled, talented, or gifted enough. It’s not a reflection of their environment, upbringing, or culture. Branches fail to produce fruit for just one reason: they’re not abiding in the vine:
“Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. (John 15:4)
As we abide in Christ—taking Him at His Word, living according to His Word and according to His promises—we’ll see a harvest of fruit. This type of fruit isn’t measured on a scale or tracked on a spreadsheet. This fruit grows as a work of the Holy Spirit, developing the character of Christ in the “branches.” Paul gives a non-exhaustive list to the Galatians: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, self-control” (5:22-23).
As we stay in the water that flows from the Throne, or to use the metaphor of John 15, as we abide in the Vine, the fruit will come. However, in order for that harvest to appear, the master Gardener must get out His clippers.
You’ll Experience Pruning
Each November we thank God for the blessings of the past year, a tradition that coincides with the harvest season. Naturally, we rejoice in the good gift of a bountiful crop. However, that crop doesn’t come without any work. While we abide, we’re promised not just fruit, but the pruning that comes with it:
“Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. (Jhn 15:2)
As branches in the vineyard of God, we must submit ourselves to the Gardener’s pruning as He cuts back and trims areas that inhibit the growth of fruit. To the branches, this is painful in the moment; however, the Gardener knows that ultimately it will make the branch even more useful. So, He tenderly and skillfully touches our dependence on finances or physical gifts; He applies His shears to a relationship or an affection that has grown out of proportion. He never takes more than He should, and He always prunes with our good and His glory in mind. For this reason, our Christian brothers call us to rejoice in the pruning:
And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom 5:3-5)
Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (Jas 1:2-4)
Pruning hurts in the moment, and we’re never called to rejoice in the pain; nor are we called to go looking for pain. However, as we abide in the Vine, we remember that the Gardener is also our Father who lovingly and purposefully trains us to make us more fruitful—more like His Son (Heb. 12:4-11).
You’ll Know Fullness of Joy
Maybe you read about pruning and want nothing more to do with this abiding thing. You’d rather keep your feet out of that pool, thank you very much. But Jesus promises His disciples something else. In the midst of warning them about the trouble they’re going to encounter in His absence—not just pruning from their heavenly Father but hatred from the world and temptation from the devil—He promises them fullness of joy.
“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. (Jhn 15:11)
It’s easy to think of the Christian life and abiding in Christ as spinach and broccoli: yeah, they might be good for you, but they sure don’t taste very good or bring much pleasure. What we really want is some ice cream with absolutely no nutritional value, just sweet, creamy, decadent deliciousness. We think that’s what we’ll find if we follow our own hearts. We truly believe that fullness of joy will be found at the end of the rainbow of our feelings. But Jesus promises otherwise. The joy we’re looking for (the delectable ice cream, if you will) isn’t found in pursuing our own pleasures but in the Vine. It’s found in Christ Himself! He isn’t selling us a sub-par product. No, He’s giving away the real deal and protecting us from the fake that will lead to misery and, ultimately, destruction.
Though we look forward to the day when we’ll be able to enjoy the river of life for all eternity, we can begin to reap its rewards in the here and now as we abide in the vine of Christ. The fruit and even the pruning are sure to bring fullness of joy.
Bible Study Nerd 