My Tree Was an Idol

This past weeks ice storm really angered me. Instead of watching trees bud and being excited about spring, we watched trees topple over and branches fall everywhere in Sioux Falls. I'm a landscaper and I love having my hands in the dirt and watching things grow. I take pride in my lawn and in my landscaping. I thought to myself, "if I love my trees so much how come God doesn't" I had spent a lot of money two years ago planting the trees that I did in my yard. Now they were covered with ice and snow and the wind was blowing.

I realize that there are worse things in life. Yet these were my feelings as I waited to see what would happen. If only the sun would come out or the temperature warm up. After I was done complaining God directed my heart to His Word where a passage from Romans made an impression that I am still thinking about a week later. Romans 1 talks about how man worships the creation more than the Creator.

Bam! Like a 2x4 over the head God used His Word to show me how I have made so many things of this world an idol....even my trees! These things have become more important to me than God at times. Oh I wouldn't come out and tell you that but my life would say that's how I felt.

So what do you do when you are convicted? You repent! A lot of people would say, "oh don't be so hard on yourself, don't worry about it" That is not how you get rid of guilt. You get rid of guilt by confessing your sin and once again rejoicing in the fact that Jesus died on the cross to remove our guilt and shame from us.

What things have you been worshipping or loving more than God? Those words from Romans 1 are powerful. They worshipped the creation more than the Creator. What things in creation are most important to you? Money? A beautiful body? When people lust over these things and want them more than God they are worshipping the creation not the Creator. When we want our own way or want to change the Word to fit the lifestyle we want we are worshiping the creation more than the Creator.

Thank You God for what You taught me through this ice storm. Thank You for convicting me of my sin and for providing a remedy for that sin. Wow! The Creator comes to His creation with love and forgiveness!

By the way, it turns out the temperatures did rise and as the ice melted my trees stood upright again! May the love of Jesus melt our hearts to stand upright again and return to the worship of the One who made us.

In Christ,
Pastor John