We show faith when we flip the switch on in a dark room expecting the energy running through the house to give us light.  We show faith when we turn on the faucet to take a shower fully expecting clean water to pour out for our cleansing.  We show faith when we turn on the stove to cook our food.  We have faith that our vehicle will start when we turn the ignition to begin the engine that drives to work or school.  We expect things to happen when we push, pull, flip, start, or drive.  Engineers have done their part, we do our part to purchase and use what has been created as our faith grows greater in things. 

God’s people had put their faith in things.  All their hope was based on what their shiny objects of affection placed on shrines in their homes, at the city gate or on a hill would do for them.  They forgot what God commanded of them, “There shall be no other gods before Me” as well as the other Big Ten given to them to protect them.  They left their God who loved them more than they could imagine and put all their faith and hope in things they created with their own hands.  This is called sin.  God is “dead-set” against sin that leads to death and destruction, sending his beloved into the fire of faithlessness.

Without God, apart from God, we are in trouble.  We have no divine protection, leaning only on our puny, unreliable human reasoning to solve problems.  We gather provisions in ways that are not pleasing to God.  When we are on our own, we do want comes “naturally.”  We desperately grab for all we can get before anyone else can get it, having it “our way,” feeling we are in competition with the whole world.  We plot, scheme, cheat and lie, pushing others down while we climb over the bodies who got in our way as we grab all the resources we think we need to be successful.

Ezekiel 15, The Message

Used as Fuel for the Fire

^1-3 God’s Message came to me: “Son of man, how would you compare the wood of a vine with the branches of any tree you’d find in the forest? Is vine wood ever used to make anything? Is it used to make pegs to hang things from?

⁴ “I don’t think so. At best it’s good for fuel. Look at it: A flimsy piece of vine, thrown in the fire and then rescued—the ends burned off and the middle charred. Now is it good for anything?

⁵ “Hardly. When it was whole it wasn’t good for anything. Half-burned is no improvement. What’s it good for?

^6-8 “So here’s the Message of God, the Master: Like the wood of the vine I selected from among the trees of the forest and used as fuel for the fire, just so I’ll treat those who live in Jerusalem. I am dead set against them. Even though at one time they got out of the fire charred, the fire’s going to burn them up. When I take my stand against them, you’ll realize that I am God. I’ll turn this country into a wilderness because they’ve been faithless.” Decree of God, the Master.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Ezekiel spoke about a vine, an unfaithful wife, and three shoots from a tree, and each of these images conveyed God’s truth to those who really wanted to understand. These pictures and parables not only described the sins of the nation of Israel, but they also declared her terrible judgment. Ezekiel spoke to his people in the most vivid language found anywhere in Scripture, but the messages fell on deaf ears.

“I Am the Vine; You Are the Branches”—Come to the Vine who gives Life

The vine is an image found often in God’s Word to us. Jesus compared Himself to a vine and His disciples to branches in the vine, because we depend wholly on Him for life and fruitfulness (See John 15). Without Him, we can do nothing. Unattached, we do not receive the life-giving sustenance we need to live.  Branches cannot live without being connected to the vine. 

Ezekiel’s contribution to the recurring illustration was to point out the worthlessness of the vine if it doesn’t bear fruit. If a tree becomes useless, we can at least cut it down and make something useful out of the wood; but what can we make out of the wood of a vine? We can’t even carve a tent peg or a wall peg out of it! It’s good for only one thing, and that’s fuel for the fire. If the wood was useless before being thrown into the fire, it’s even more worthless after it’s been singed and marred by the flames.

Those of us who are branches in Jesus Christ, the true vine, need to take this lesson to heart. If we fail to abide in Christ, we lose our spiritual power, wither, and fail to bear fruit for His glory. The fruitless branch is tossed aside and eventually burned (John 15:6). This burning does not mean condemnation in the lake of fire, for no true believer can be condemned for sins for which Jesus died (John 6:37; 10:27–29; Rom. 8:1).  Jesus paid it all, all our sins.  Stay attached the One who gives life forever with Him.  Let us grow our faith in Jesus, as a habit of daily life.

Let us worship the God of Promise who never lets us down.  Believe and call on the Name of Jesus.  He is our Vine, we are His branches.  He is the one who grows the fruits of His Holy Spirit on our branches that give and sustain Life. 

This song is playing in the background as I meditate on God’s Word today….

Promises (Maverick City Music)

God of Abraham
You’re the God of covenant
and of faithful promises
Time and time again You have proven

You’ll do just what You said

Though the storms may come and the

Winds may blow I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn when You
speak a word it will come to pass

Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same
I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me

God from age to age,

Though the earth may pass away,
Your word remains the same
Your history can prove there’s nothing
You can’t do, You’re faithful and True

Though the storms may come and the

Winds may blow I’ll remain steadfast
And let my heart learn when You
speak a word it will come to pass

Great is Your faithfulness to me
Great is Your faithfulness to me
From the rising sun to the setting same
I will praise Your name
Great is Your faithfulness to me

Oh, oh your faithfulnesss
it never runs out

I put my faith in Jesus
My anchor to the ground
My hope and firm foundation
He’ll never let me down

I put my faith in Jesus
My anchor to the ground
My hope and firm foundation
He’ll never let me down

I put my faith in Jesus
My anchor to the ground
My hope and firm foundation
He’ll never let me down

I put my faith in Jesus
My anchor to the ground
My hope and firm foundation
He’ll never let me down//