Are You Growing in Jesus' Cozy Shelter?

John 14:21 (New International Version)

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Icelanders have been utilizing their abundance of geothermal energy for many good causes. Not only do they use this energy to generate electricity, to heat their homes, and to fill their hot water tanks, they also utilize it to heat greenhouses for the purpose of growing fruits and vegetables.

Utilizing this kind of energy for greenhouse cultivation began in 1924, and now more than 175 000 square meters of the country are used for this sole purpose: growing tropical plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables, all geo-thermically! In a land where light is almost non-existent during the winter months, where winds are almost always present, and temperatures are far from ideal for the cultivation of plants, an abundance of fruit and vegetables is possible.

In these naturally-heated greenhouses, plant life thrives. There is no lack of heat, water or light. Everything they need to grow is provided for, and anything that could hurt them has been removed. There is nothing to keep them from growing, and grow they do!

We, as humans, however, in similar situations, would look through the window panes of the greenhouse and sigh: "It feels so claustrophobic in here! It looks so much nicer outside! Why do I have to be stuck in here, anyway? It's not fair! I want to be free!"

Our cozy shelter suddenly becomes a threat to our well-being, and a deep desire to break free seeds itself in our hearts. The very rules that permit us to thrive become a threat to us. "I don't need geothermal heat!" We cry. "I don't need geothermal water! I don't need geothermal lights, either! I want to be free!"

But once free, we would wither and die in the harsh weather conditions.

Jesus is trying to bring us back into that cozy shelter where growth is possible:

Dear Lord we pray that we would stay within the confines You have for each of us, knowing that if we stay in Your will we will prosper. In Jesus’ name, Amen.