The Root of the Matter

This past week Kim and I spent some time weeding the mulch beds around our home. As many of you probably know, the problem with pulling weeds is that, unless you can get to the root, just getting rid of the plant on the surface does not really solve your weed problem. Unless you get to the “root of the matter,” the weeds will come back. It seems to me, however, that weeds were designed so as to make it almost impossible to completely remove them by their roots. They will quickly break somewhere near the surface. Thus, unless you dig down deep (and sometimes really deep) into the ground,  you’ll never really get rid of the weeds. (Of course, another option is to use a chemical of some sort that goes down through the soil to kill the plant at its roots.) 

If we’re honest, when we are facing the difficulties, conflicts, and challenges of life, we very often want a quick fix—like pulling a weed from the top. In reality, however, there’s often a lot more happening below the surface of our lives. And unless we get to the “root of the matter” the weeds of life will simply reappear. Most of the time there are some pretty deep and strong roots that need to be exposed. And most often that root is sin—sinful thoughts, sinful habits, sinful desires, etc. 

The Bible shows us, that when we put our faith in Jesus, he doesn’t just fix up the surface of our lives—plucking a few surface weeds. Jesus doesn’t come into our lives to simply bring about some behavior modification, to make our lives a bit cleaner and nicer looking. Rather, when he comes into our lives he goes right to the “root of the matter”: SIN.  That’s why he came in the first place—to deal with our sin; to bring to us the forgiveness of God, the mercy and grace of God, and ultimately the salvation of God. He came to deal with our sin. 

The Apostle Paul wrote,  “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” He goes on, “…in the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus….For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:6-7, 11, 14 - NIV). 

Jesus came that he might get to the “root of the matter.” Again, he didn’t come to simply remove the surface weeds of our lives. He came to bring about a deep work within our lives, changing us from the inside out, giving us new hearts and new minds—a new nature. He came to deal head-on with that which needed to be extracted from our lives. He came to do away with the sin nature that has taken deep root within each of us, making us completely new. 

Don’t come to Jesus with just the surface stuff of your life. Don’t try to hide what’s happening below the surface from him. Confess your sin, receive forgiveness for your sin, and begin to experience the deep transformation that only he can bring. Before you know it, the weeds of your life will begin to disappear! After all, he’s really good really good at getting to the “root of the matter.” 

Have a great day! 

- Pastor Tim Harris