Recently, my wife (Sharon) and I spent a day in the Illinois Starved Rock & Matthiessen state parks area hiking and riding our bikes. As we hiked and rode our bikes, we were able to observe the awesome creation of God; through the various trees, canyons, and rock formations. Some of the trees seemed to “cling on” to the sides of cliffs via their roots; yet, in some cases they were outpacing the growth of their neighbor trees. Likewise, it was amazing to see how water over the course of time had cut large and deep gorges through the limestone; with only a remnant of small waterfalls today. While walking on the trails, we observed that nestled amongst the small tree saplings and ground foliage were poison ivy and poison oak plants and for which were very close to the edge of the trails. To the unsuspecting observer, the poison ivy and poison oak plants blended in with the other vegetation; even seemingly inviting one to touch the leaves and the extended flowers. Additionally, upon closer inspection, at times it was difficult to tell the difference between the poison oak plants and black berry plants.
Taking all of our observations into account, we praised the Lord for the beauty of nature; the majestic sights; the different species of trees that reached far into the sky to create a canopy of shade over the hiking trail. The Scriptures record that on the third day of creation in Genesis 1:11-12,
“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”
Luke 6:44 states,
“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.”
A study of just the trees yields knowledge that they provide food and shelter for some animals; homes for man, fire to cook his food, and for the cleansing of the air that we breathe; and in reading about the red cedar, pencils for school children. Again, this is God’s majestic work.
But now let’s return to the “poison ivy and poison oak”. This reminded us that from the beginning of time, Satan uses every means at his disposal to draw us towards destruction; while masking his temptations with beauty. Consider the “tree of knowledge of good and evil”. Satan, through the serpent’s temptation, convinced Eve that she could be as a “god, knowing good and evil” if she would just lift up her eyes and “see” the fruit.
Genesis 3:6 states,
“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
When you study the parable of the “wheat and the tares” you find that it is very difficult to tell the difference between the two, until the “fruit” comes to bear. When the servants asked the Lord if they should pull up the tares, He responded in Matthew 13:29,
“But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.”
Jesus then affirmed that the tares would subsequently be dealt with as stated in Matthew 13:30,
“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”
And in Matthew 13:38,
“The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;”
Satan is a master of deception as declared in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15,
“And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
Therefore, it is imperative that we learn of Satan’s ways, and how to discern what is and is not “poison ivy and poison oak”; lest we receive painful blisters on our body by touching the plants. We can praise the Lord that one day there will be no Satanic influence and no deception. But the remaining question is, “Are you living your life as poison ivy and poison oak?” For you see, “poison ivy and poison oak” are really no different than the “tares”. Trust in Jesus today so that you will no longer be a deceiver – so that you can become true “wheat” and bear fruit for the Lord.
