"Reading the Redwoods: Life Out of Death"

“Reading the Redwoods”

“Life Out of Death”

 

Maybe the only negative part of our journey among the giants was the number of trees that had died and were reposing on the forest floor. One, however, especially caught our attention because another evergreen was growing out of it. Amazingly, the death of one had given life to another.

Some time ago we heard of a church in Michigan which was shutting its doors and donating its resources to a start-up assembly in another part of the state. In a second case a church in Massachusetts had dissolved and used its assets to underwrite a fund to assist in planting churches in New England. In both situations death was providing new life to reach out into other communities.

From these observations we remembered the words Jesus spoke shortly before His death: “…Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” (John 12:24). While death brings sadness, in the examples of the fallen redwood and closed churches God produced good things. And Jesus’ giving his life for us makes our restoration to fellowship with God possible. (What could surpass that?) The Apostle Paul wrote, “We were reconciled to (God) through the death of his Son….” (Romans 5:10), and our new, fresh, full life emerges because of the death and resurrection of Christ (“…Your blood has ransomed people for God….”—Revelation 5:9, NLT). Have you “…crossed over from death to life.”? (John 5:24).

We hope you’ve learned from “Reading the Redwoods.” We know we did. And it’s our prayer that we’ll all be good and teachable students in God’s school of life, wherever His classroom may be.

 

Blessings!

Jim and Karen McMillan