Thorns and Faith
In Gen 3:17-18 God says to Adam: “cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.dBoth thorns and thistles it will yield for you.”
This verse tells us that as a result of sin, thorns and thistles along with numerous other weeds grow in fields that were meant to grow food. Weeds multiply, spreading and choking out useful plants, and absorbing moisture and nutrients that useful plants need. Many are invasive species from other areas of the world that choke out natural growth and cause much environmental damage. Some are painful to touch or cause a painful rash. A deep tap root makes some almost impossible to eradicate. Thorns and thistles thus not only came into the world because of sin, and the harm that they cause symbolizes the results of sin in today’s world and the seriousness of the consequences of sin, “for the wages of sin is death.”
One weed that is especially noxious has a small yellow flower and appears harmless but produces a seed pod with sharp pointed seeds that easily puncture shoes, bicycle tires, and animal skin. The leaves are also poisonous when eaten by livestock. The plants grow in the form of a net, chocking out surrounding vegetation. There has been much research in an effort to eradicate this plant, for a long tap root makes the plant difficult to eradicate. Ironically the plant is called goats-head, for the goat has become a symbol for the devil in satanism. Recently a chemical mixture that will kill the goats-head has been developed. It is helpful in keeping it from spreading. Fortunately for us there is a readily available chemical that effectively deals with our sin. It is the blood that Jesus shed on the cross to redeem (Eph.1:7 Col.1:14) to cleanse (1 John 1:7) to forgive (Heb. 9:22) and to strengthen our new life in Christ (Heb.13:12). So, while the wages of sin is both spiritual and physical death, we no longer need to fear spiritual death, for Romans 6:22-23 says “in Christ Jesus we have been freefrom sin and enslaved to God, deriving our benefit resulting in sanctification and the outcome, eternal life.”
There remain however, lingering spiritual thorns and thistles, that is, the results of sin. We cannot look at our world today and fail to observe the fears, discontent, disorder, chaos, disruption, disaster, divisions, inequality, and greed that lead to injustice and ultimately to war. It’s all evident in our daily headline news, evidence of a Godless sinful human race yielding to the devil’s temptations and lies. But just as we see these things in the outside world, when we look closely we can also identify them in our own lives.
In the parable of the sower and the seed Jesus refers to weeds as worries and cares, and the deceitfulness or riches (Matt. 13:22). The world around us can be overwhelming. And while we remain in this world we need to continually trust in the One who has overcome the world (John 16:33). Only then can we avoid being overwhelmed with the frustration of the thorns and thistles that surround us. Jesus has not only forgiven our sin but is with us in the turmoil of everyday life that is the result of sin. He has promised to strengthen us through His Word and fellowship in the body of Christ. So let us take our eyes off the thorns and thistles and focus on Jesus. Experiencing thorns and thistles helps us realize our weakness and just how much we need to depend on Him every day.
2 Cor.12:7 Paul refers to a thorn in the flesh (perhaps a painful physical ailment), as a messenger from Satan to harass or torment him. But the end result was to keep him from being proud. 1 Cor.5;5 For Christians, trouble and suffering are not merely punishment for sin, but may serve as discipline that culminates in spiritual gain.
When considering the crown of thorns placed on Jesus’ head before His crucifixion (John 19:2,5) the thorns might represent the result of our sins. 1 Peter 2:4 tells us that Christ bore our sins in His body on the cross. Why? So that we might die to sin and live for righteousness.
In conclusion, we see that God uses thorns and thistles, something we can relate to in nature, to teach us spiritual truths.
Our prayer for ourselves is to take sin seriously and recognize the problems in this world and in our own lives as the thorns and thistles, that are the result of sin. They are a reminder of our need for a Savior, who died to save us from the penalty of our sin, who today lives in us to save us from the power of sin, and who will take is to heaven where we will then be free from the presence of sin.
Our prayer for our needy world is that others will become aware of the presence and seriousness of sin, the forgiveness that Jesus offers, and the supernatural direction and peace that is available through Him.
And our prayer is for those who are suffering intense physical and mental pain as a result of sin, those in war torn areas, those in refugee camps, those suffering famine due to drought and other effects of climate change, and those who have lost their freedom due to authoritarian dictatorship. A large number of our Christian brothers and sisters are suffering because of their faith. They are in need of our prayer support.