The Bare Roots

Written By Molly Mayo

The Lamplighter Summer Guild has come to an end, but you can be sure it will never be forgotten. We experienced deep spiritual truths, answered prayer, and transformed lives. On Tuesday morning, as the sun was rising over the “Grand Canyon of the East,” Dr. Lew Sterrett taught about pruning from John 15. Little did we know, something special was about to take place.

Sitting on colorful blankets and overlooking a grand vista of God’s creation were 120 students, teachers, and staff. Dr. Lew took his position near the rock wall overlooking the gorge. A tall shrub-like tree stood upon the rock wall. Dr. Lew had previously asked me to find a shrub or tree that was alive but had some dead branches on it. The perfect tree was in my yard. For the first several years it had brought forth an abundance of white and purple flowers, but over the last few years the flowers (fruit) had stopped growing. So we dug it up and Dr. Lew used it for an illustration we will never forget. He turned to John 15:

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:2-7).

In John 15 the word “abide” is repeated nine times. The root word comes from the word “meno” carrying the idea of being at home with someone. When we abide with Christ, we are at home with Him and He with us. But sin makes our abiding uncomfortable, both for Him and us. In order to be at home (abide) with Christ, He has to do some house cleaning, or pruning. This pruning is not punitive but in the words of Dr. Lew, “pruned to be prosperous!”

The tree towered over eight feet tall. As we focused on the lesson being taught, Dr. Lew began to cut away the dead branches, pile them up, and set them aside to be burned. He noted that in today’s culture, burning dead branches would not be looked upon favorably. Instead, we would compost, shred, or turn them into mulch. But Jesus wanted them to be burned as a warning to those who refused to “abide” in him. Even for the believer, God wants the dead branches to be removed. The dead branches represent our failures, sins, and weaknesses. It is God’s desire to destroy the dead works of the past and focus instead on our future fruit-bearing.

“Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Cor 3:12-17).

The next lesson involved pruning good healthy branches. Wait! Why is he cutting my good branches? Dr. Lew explained that even good branches that are just taking up space need to be cut away. These branches may look good, but if they aren’t bringing forth fruit, they need to go.

Our small orchard of apple trees produces hundreds of “sucker” branches that never bear fruit but rob the fruit-producing branches of nutrients. Unless we remove the unfruitful branches, we will have a paltry harvest with anemic fruit. In the same way, Jesus wants us to be branches that bear fruit, and fruit that will remain. Spiritually speaking, it is never easy to go through one of God’s pruning sessions, but praise God, much fruit will follow.

Just when I thought he was finished, Dr. Lew began to cut the strings away that were holding the burlap around the root ball. Time out! If he exposes the roots, my tree will die! Without hesitating, he pulled dead and living roots out of the ball. He looked at the crowd and said, “The dark areas of our lives need to be exposed to the light and removed! If you want to grow in spiritual maturity, you can’t live with secret hidden sins.” God requires us to walk in the light as He is in the light. Only then can the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse us from all sin.

He continued to pull out more and more dead roots. Dirt fell from the root ball. It was amazing to see how many dead roots were removed. They were taking up space but providing no sustenance for the tree. How many secret sins are taking up space in our lives?

My poor tree. There wasn’t much left of it. As I was reminded of God’s love and determination to change me into his likeness, I was reminded of Hebrews chapter 12:

“And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled” (Heb. 12:5-15).

Believer (especially me), know that God loves us too much to allow us to remain fruitless with useless branches and dead roots. Dead and useless branches must be removed. Secret and hidden sins must go. Friends who are not “fleeing youthful lusts, nor following after righteousness, faith, love, and peace, nor calling on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart,” must go (2 Tim 2:22). Carnal activities must go. The path to spiritual restoration and vitality is found in abiding and while abiding, listening to him. Jesus said:

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

He has so much to teach us. If we want to be able to ask what we will, and it be done, then let the pruning begin! Don’t resist. The quicker we get these dead branches and carnal roots out of our lives, the more fruitful we will become and the more at home with Jesus we will be.

Recommended Reading and Listening:

Molly Mayo
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