Every winter in DFW, we experience at least one solid cold spell, bring subfreezing temperatures. One of the interesting things about living here with significant swings in temperature is that many of the plants we enjoy aren’t really made to withstand the cold. We have several plants that, if we want them to survive, we have to pull into the garage to keep them from being destroyed by the cold.
Fruit trees can also be susceptible to freezing temperatures, especially those that grow in the South or in tropical climates. Over the years, the orange crops in Florida have suffered devastating damage when cold fronts have moved through the usually mild climate. Cold weather can cause great damage to the life and fruit of a plant.
If this is true for the life of a plant, how much truer is it of the damage cold can bring to the life of a believer? I don’t mean physical coldness, as in the weather, but the spiritual coldness that can creep into a believer’s heart.
When you think about your Christian walk, you may remember the warmth you felt when you first followed Christ. You may have felt great fervor and excitement as you considered all that Jesus had done for you. You were on fire for the Lord!
But just as it happens in the natural order, there are times in our spiritual lives when damaging cold winds can blow through, causing a spiritual freeze. This may happen over time, or it can come rather suddenly, but many believers have grown cold in their faith.
Where joy once resided, bitterness now lingers. Where peace once thrived, anxiety has taken root. Hope turns to despair. The spiritual fruit that once flourished in our lives no longer seems to grow. The scary part is that many Christians have been lulled into a spiritual winter slumber, not even realizing that they are frozen in their faith.
Jesus’ words in John 15:1–8 give us a helpful image of what the Christian life should look like:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
We are called to bear fruit in the Christian life! There are attitudes and actions that grow out of our faith and should be visible to the world. Paul was certainly thinking of spiritual fruit when he wrote:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law”
(Galatians 5:22).
You may notice that the word “fruit” is singular, which means a thriving believer should show all these qualities at once. Jesus is also clear about what happens to branches that don’t bear fruit:
“If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned” (John 15:6)
There is no such thing as a permanently fruitless Christian. Yet many who were once producing abundant fruit have now been damaged by a spiritual freeze.
While the words of John 15:1–8 can be quite sobering, there is also great comfort. We are not left to our own devices to try and produce fruit on our own—we are called to abide in Christ.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
One of the key components of abiding is knowing who we are abiding in. What is it about Jesus that brings life and fruit? In this passage, we see His divinity (v. 1, echoing the ‘I AM’ of Exodus 3:14), His role as the source of life and faithfulness (vv. 4–5), and His role as our teacher (vv. 3, 10). It is only through Jesus Christ that we can ever hope to have eternal and abundant life.
One of the most powerful ways we can abide in Christ is by seeking and knowing Him. To pursue Him. To learn about Him. To follow His teachings. To love as He loved. To reach people as He reached people. The more we immerse ourselves in who Jesus is and grow in our affection for Him, the more we will feel the warmth of His presence. As we grow in our understanding of Christ, amazing fruit will begin to blossom in our lives.
Do you want this? Do you desire to return to your first love? If so, do it today. Make a commitment right now that you are going to pursue Christ intentionally. Dedicate time to pray and read His Word. But don’t just go through the motions—truly ask God to reveal His Son to you in a powerful way. Gather with other believers and talk about your faith in Christ. Rejoice in who Jesus is!
You don’t have to live in a perpetual spiritual freeze. The warmth of faith in Christ is waiting for you. Come to Him.