Firewood

This morning I worked for a while on splitting up some of the remaining logs that I had on the back patio from the summer's wood gathering.  This wood has been separated from the roots.  It is dead, and, over the course of time, is becoming dryer and dryer, loosing any appearance of life. It is firewood, after all.  Green wood doesn't burn well.

Then I just sat down to read from John 15, and I found this in verse 6:

If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

Firewood becomes ashes over the course of time.  The pieces of wood will be gone. The ashes will be discarded. 

I was reminded of Isaiah 44.  Isaiah describes the foolishness of the one who takes a piece of wood and carves a god to worship and to whom he prays for deliverance. The rest he burns. 

Psalm 135 says this:
¹⁵ The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
made by human hands.
¹⁶ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
¹⁷ They have ears, but cannot hear,
nor is there breath in their mouths.
¹⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.  

 

We become like what we worship.  What a joy, then, to worship the living God and be truly alive!