The True Test of Character
Jeremiah 17:7,8 But those who trust in the LORD will be blessed. They know that the LORD will do what he says. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that send out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit.
There are times in life when, as the expression goes, we feel the heat; when there seems to be a scarcity of the living water that Jesus promised. And it’s in that place that we discover who we really are.
The hottest temperature I’ve ever experienced was back in 1977 when my cousin, Ted, was married. It was 48° Celsius (just under 120° degrees Fahrenheit). As we stepped out of the air conditioning to walk the short distance to the church it was absolutely unbearable. How can anyone function in that sort of heat?
So that’s the image that springs to mind whenever I read these couple of verses:
Jeremiah 17:7,8 But those who trust in the LORD will be blessed. They know that the LORD will do what he says. They will be strong like trees planted near a stream that send out roots to the water. They have nothing to fear when the days get hot. Their leaves are always green. They never worry, even in a year that has no rain. They always produce fruit.
The next day we visited the orange orchard owned by Ted’s in-laws. Now, it wasn’t quite as hot that day, but almost. And blow me down if the orange trees weren’t laden with fruit.
That, my friend, is the true test of character. That’s the test of the depth of our relationship with God. Can we, do we … are we producing fruit when the heat is on? Answer? That depends on whether our roots run deep into the living water.
Those who trust in the Lord … have nothing to fear when the days are hot. Their leaves are always green. They always produce fruit.
And that’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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