I know two young men, one travels the road of wisdom and life, the other travels the road of folly and death. Both are Christians, both are chosen by God and called according to his purpose, but they walk very different paths. What is it that makes a man to trust or to distrust his God? How is it that any, having encountered the River of Life time and time again can refuse to drink from it? In the one there is growth, prosperity, peace, and wholeness even in the midst of many adversities. In the other there is only desolation even though he is surrounded by many good things and many opportunities. I am struck by the profound parable of these two men. On one side of me is the lush tree planted by the river that gives its fruit in season and on the other side of me is a barren wasteland where there is only chaff blowing in the wind and the earth is parched for lack of water.
The one who chose wisdom and life trusts in his God. He did not always trust, but he has learned trust and so he grows in the Lord every day. The Lord has honored his faith and has provided for him and given him more tasks and responsibilities. It is just as Jesus spoke concerning the parable of the talents. He was found faithful with few things so the Lord has honored him and given him much more. He used to come to me with so many questions about faith and God and his problems, and I would answer him as best as I could, feeding on the Lord to help me help him. But now he goes to the Lord directly and he is teaching me and has become an example of faith to me! I am so proud of him, that he has grown to maturity and is now doing for others what I did for him and now the two of us are equal. He is at peace even though he has many reasons to worry and he succeeds even though he has many difficulties that cause him to stumble. Praise be to the Lord in whom he has put his faith in! The Lord is faithful to those who put their trust in Him!
The one who chose folly and death speaks of trusting God and knows the Scriptures, but he does not understand it or put it into practice when he does. He used to trust, but he has either forgotten or chosen not to draw upon the Lord. As a result he has dried up and is unable to do anything. He does not drink from the Lord and so he has dried up. His motivation for life and school is utterly spent. He understands his classes and the Word of God, but he does not enjoy them or practice them. He is angry, tired, rebellious, and can not even think straight any more. Instead of sleeping he stays up all night searching for distraction. Instead of doing his homework he seeks solace in entertainment. When confronted with the source of life, the river from which we all drink, he is ashamed, not glad. If only he would have trusted in the Lord and drank of this river then he too would surely have prospered and succeeded! I am sad and afraid for him. He does not trust the Lord and will not draw upon him. He chooses thirst and so he is thirsty, he chooses quarreling over peace and so he is quarrelsome. It is as Jesus said, that He is the vine and we are the branches, apart from him we can do nothing. Also, according to the parable of the Talents, the one who is unfaithful with the little he has, although he thinks he has nothing at all, even that will be taken from him and given instead to those who have proven themselves faithful. Truly the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fear the Lord and seek him while he may be found. If he would turn and but draw upon the Lord he would be healed and restored, but if he does not then even the ability to want to turn may grow weaker and fade.
Such is the blessing that comes from a living trust and faith in Jesus and such is the desolation that comes from knowing the truth but refusing to live in it.