Fig Trees and Tennessee Winters

Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star. (Revelation 22:12-16 ESV). When we moved into our home a few years ago I had enough room to plant some fruit trees and berry vines. We have peaches, apples, blueberries, wild raspberries, and figs. I know that is quite an eclectic collection, but it seemed to be what I wanted to grow at the time. Everything is doing very well except the figs. Perhaps it is due in part to the variety of figs I have planted, although I was very careful to select varieties that could survive this winter zone. I did exactly as instructed, planting them on the south side of the house to give them some shelter from the harsh cold winds in January and February. So far they have not done as well as I had hoped they would. They haven’t died, but they die back to the ground every year. Then amazingly they sprout from the root and grow three to four feet and do put on a few figs. This isn’t anything like I remember when I was growing up in Galveston, Texas. We had two fig trees in our backyard that were nearly twenty feet tall and covered at least that much ground space. We had all the fresh figs we could possibly want! I fondly remember going out back with a paper bag and picking the ripe figs for my grandmother to make some Italian confection. The yellow jacket stings were well worth the reward of her fig cookies and breads. As I look at my fig trees today, they have once again died above ground and are sprouting from the root. It reminded me of our reading today. Jesus is called the “root and the descendant of David.” It is another one of the conundrums of Scripture. How can something be both a root and a shoot from the root at the same time? Only with the combination of the divine and human nature in Jesus is it possible. And, in that truth we find the greatest of hopes. Like my fig tree, we will always have life as we are connected to the root. Since Jesus is indeed the Root of David we will always have life. And, again like my fig, as long as we draw on that life, we will also produce fruit. Regardless of the harshness of winter, the root lives. And, it understands that harsh winter wind. Jesus is coming soon. Rest in the Root of David and know he cares for you. He will produce fruit in its season!