Pastor’s Podium

Have you ever seen a tree that was infested with poison ivy? The tangled brown mass and most of the branches you see are dead from poison ivy. When my son was young, he would climb trees and shortly after he would have poison ivy. I would tell him over and over stay away from the trees and fence lines and when in doubt hear my voice, “do not go play next to or climb” where danger lurks. He would not follow my sound instruction, so off to the emergency room we would go for treatment for the poison ivy rash that erupted all over his body.

The tree was planted with care by people who came long before us. The poison ivy sprouted at the base of the tree soon after. It was allowed to grow and infest and take over the tree — so much so that half the trunk diameter was poison ivy. It sucked the life out of the tree and poisoned anyone who touched it.

I thought why not try to remove it naturally. It did not work. I notice there are more website with information on killing poison ivy then naturally removing it. Notice the words remove and kill. You can remove a toxic situation, or person but it or he or she comes back usually worst. To truly rid yourself of poison ivy it takes a very strong and powerful chemical to kill it. So I called a company called Weed Killer. The young man who came to my home confidently told me it was his job to get rid of the poison ivy. I see. It made me truly think about how God knows more about our situation and a people far more than myself.

You might have something, or someone, in your life like that poison ivy — something that creeps into an otherwise orderly life, relationship, or family; or into a church, school, business, politics, or society. Perhaps it is a family member.

It could be human carnality: abuse, addiction, demonic activity, crime, toxic ideology, or environmental destruction. It will always be related to sin, always. Like the young man, people will think or pretend that they are taking care of the problem, while it only gets worse and that is what happened — two for two for poison ivy. For a while I did not want to touch the poison ivy, again. But I knew if I did not, it would only continue to get worse.

I watched my brother cut down the main trunk of the tree, which had completely died except for the offshoots that had grown in later years. It has no leaves at all but is producing a few tiny sprouts. My brave brother, who is also allergic to poison ivy, dressed like the Michelin® man, showed his great love for his nephew by putting himself at risk. Not only did he remove a great danger and taught me how to use a chain saw, he still got poison ivy from removing his clothing. Since I had on flip flops I discovered I am allergic to sumac, the sister of poison ivy.

My brother and I knew we had to confront and eradicate infesting evil and evil like this required decisiveness and determined effort despite all resistance to our effort because the poison ivy did not want to go. As a result, two people suffered because of its effects. With sin, both resistance and suffering will occur in abundance.

Like cutting most of the tree down, much will be sacrificed in the process of removing poisonous people from your life. With what is left in the end, you might even question if the whole effort was worth it.

Whatever is left standing — free from poisonous destruction and free to grow — is indeed worth it.

For us this tree represents the church we come to and what we had to do to change it. For others this tree may represent dealing with addiction, abuse, demonic deception, corruption, greed, or criminality.

Choose your battle. Be decisive. Do what it takes. Trust God.

You yourself will grow in the process.

Thanks to Dr. Peter Lindell for his leadership and teachings. So many love you.