"October Gold"
 by Cindy Lee Oleson

  Secrets of "The Rescue"

           During the summer of 2001, a friend gave me Bruce Wilkinson’s book, “The Prayer of Jabez.”  It had quite an impact on me and I immediately went out and bought his follow up book, “The Secrets of the Vine”.  This book was profound in the insight into Jesus’ heart during his final hours on earth and how He desires his children to stay intimately attached to Him – our only source of strength.  

           In John 15, Jesus tells us He is the true Vine, and His Father is the vine dresser.  “Every branch that does not bear fruit will be cut off and every branch that does bear fruit will be pruned so that it bears even more fruit.  No branch can bear fruit alone; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.”

           My husband, Tim and I have seven grapevines on our property.  For years those vines grew wildly over the fence, sprawling over the lawn and generally being unruly.  Yes, they did produce fruit, but most of it was under developed or so overgrown by foliage that it went unnoticed and went to waste.

            Over the summer, I decided to see what would happen if I put the principle of pruning to the test both spiritually and literally.  I gave myself wholeheartedly to learning what it means to be “in Christ”.

            Although, “in Christ”, I still grow off in the wrong direction sometimes,  I am willing to be pruned by the Father, made into a branch that bears more fruit.

            As Christ began to reveal to me this profound truth, my frequent visits to our row of vines was reinforcing it.  Every few days, I would take time to venture out and snip off new growth that was heading off in the wrong direction over the fence or toward the ground.  Some new growth  needed to be pruned so it would not diminish energy from the already established fruit and prevent it from maturing to its fullest potential.

            My visits to the vines became a relaxing and worshipful experience.  It was fun to watch the plants grow and take such a beautiful shape.  Every time I snipped off a new shoot, it was gratifying to know it was actually send more energy, more life to the fruit that remained.  Since the vines were not overgrown, it was easy to see just what was needed to keep them going in the right direction.  That fall, our grape harvest was the best ever.

            It worked. I won’t ever forget the beautiful way Christ demonstrated the simple truth of John 15 to me.

            The vines have become the symbol of my goal in life, to allow everything I do to become attached to and growing out of the person of Jesus Christ, and to say, “Father, prune me whenever I need it, even when it hurts!”

            “The Rescue” contains the lesson of the vine.  Christ is totally committed to giving us what we need to bear fruit for Him.  On Christ’s finger is a ring with a cluster of grapes, and the suggestion of vines and tendrils on his robe is a reminder of who He is and who we are in Him. I truly believe He wants us to live happy and fulfilling lives.  Everything He did in His earthly life says, “take my hand, I’ll lift you, I’ll hold you.  My strength is all you need.”  He is nothing less than our only hope for life!

Cindy Lee Oleson

Return to:
"The Rescue"