11/02/2017
Intertwined And Still Standing
Written By
Dr. James Spinnati
The old saying is so true, “United we stand, divided we fall”. In order for us to accomplish a united front we must stand together. In fact unity is the hallmark of Christianity. We all have seen or know about the Redwoods, but did you know that the roots of the redwood trees are very shallow. Their roots are only four to six feet deep and yet these trees grow to be over 350 feet tall! Their shallow root system is not much of a support system when winds and flood waters hit. But the might of this tree is not in itself; it is in others. For every foot in height it grows the redwood tree sends its root system not down but out three times the distance that it grows in height. The root system of an individual redwood intertwines with the root system of the neighboring redwoods therefore they strengthen each other allowing them to withstand the greatest storms that might come their way.
Just as with the redwoods; in the Christian community no one can stand alone. And no one can stop a united stand, but a selfishness and a self-centered mind-set can destroy any good work. When we work together, caring for others' problems as if they were our own problems, we demonstrate Christ’s example of putting others first, and we experience true biblical unity. Don’t be concerned about making a good impression if you love others you already have.
In order to grasp the truth of the last paragraph J. Dudley Woodbury tells a true story of Christians working together making a difference. This episode of the love of Christ took place in the dismal refugee camps of Peshawar, Pakistan. The fighting between the Majahideen in post-Soviet Afghanistan and the rise of the Taliban resulted in thousands of refugees flooding into the camps near the border. Most of the children in the camps ran around barefoot in both the intense heat and intense cold.
Christians from America sent hundreds of sandals for the children but decided not to just distribute them but care for the children’s feet as well. So they utilized as many Christian volunteers as possible who washed the children’s filthy feet, put medication on their sores and prayed for them silently as they gave out the sandals.
Brothers and sisters working together for good will make a difference even if we personally never are there to see the results. Why do I bring this up now? Because the true story of washing and caring for the children’s feet did not stop when that kindness was delivered. Now here is the rest of the story; three months later a Muslim primary school teacher in the camp asked her students who the best Muslims were. One little girl raised her hand and responded, “The kafirs” {unbelievers, which the Muslims call Christians}. After the teacher recovered from “cardiac arrest”, she asked, “Why?” The little girl said, “The Mujahideen killed my father, but the kafirs washed my feet and gave me sandals!”
I believe the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 put an exclamation point on the previous point. And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me {Matthew 25:33-40
