When it comes to being watchful and guarding the boundaries of our life, sometimes we need a little help from our friends or ... our grandkids!
When my grandson, Will, was about six years old, he and I were taking a leisurely walk on our land when Will suddenly yanked my hand and yelled, "STOP!"
"What's the matter?" I said.
"You see'dat over d'ere, Mimmy?" he said in his most serious voice. "Don't never you go over d'ere, Mimmy."
"Why?" I asked.
He leaned in and whispered, "Cause d'ere's poisee ivan over d'ere."
"Poisee Ivan? You mean Poison Ivy?"
I choked back a laugh and thanked him for protecting me. Thanks to my ever-vigilant grandson I didn't return home sporting a rash.
Trees get a little help from their friends, too. The acacia tree, for example, is home to a specific type of ant that viciously defends the trees against invaders. They'll actually snip off the foliage of other plants that encroach on their tree! (Wow, isn't God amazing?)
Oak trees are one of the most loved trees in the world. They are a symbol of strength, resistance, and knowledge. God created them with natural defense mechanisms. Let's examine three lines of defense in the oak tree and see what we can learn:
The oak tree's first line of defense against pests and diseases is its thick bark.
Have you heard the term "thick-skinned?" That refers to a person who is not easily hurt or offended by criticism or negative comments. Offense seems to be in the air these days. We have to guard our hearts against being offended because if we hold on to those feelings it can lead us in the wrong direction. The enemy l-o-v-e-s to get us offended. It's a powerful weapon that he used to divide friends, families, and even the best of churches.
The next line of defense in the oak tree is truly miraculous. If an oak tree gets injured the tree will convert some of its stored sugars to make defensive chemicals. It then distributes these protective compounds to seal off the wound.
What is our line of defense when we get offended? It's turning to Jesus and asking Him to seal our hurt through the power of forgiveness. Wounds left to fester make us vulnerable to the devil's attack. When we forgive those who have hurt us and confess it to the Lord, He closes our wounds and strengthens us.
The third line of defense is the oak tree's massive root system. It can spread four to seven times the width of the tree's crown. This is its greatest protector through storms and droughts. I wonder if Isaiah knew about the oak tree's root system when he called God's people "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified" (61:3). When the storms of life hit us hard, that is not the time to start developing a strong root system.
Our best line of defense is to keep our eyes on Jesus and stay in His Word. Building strong spiritual lines of defense requires an adjustment in our priorities. When we look at our lives in light of eternity, we must admit there are some things simply not worth our time.
For more spiritual nuggets from the study of trees you can order my book:
