Our too deep dandelion roots

Dandelions are beautiful—for about two days. Left to themselves, dandelions will take over a lawn. Dandelions have a single tap root; it goes deep into sub-soil making dandelions almost impossible to pull without breaking off the root. Guess what—from this partial root left in the ground will spring another beautiful dandelion to be admired, however short lived.

Dandelions are not all bad. People make wine out of them. Dandelions can also be used in making a salad; the greens contain trace minerals which are lacking in our diet. The reason the dandelions have trace minerals is because their roots sink deep into the subsoil and bring the minerals to our plate.

As Christians we make good dandelions. Most of us are bright and cheery. Life with its ups and downs may make our cheeriness fade. Hopefully, we “go to seed” as it were, spreading the message of Christ to the world. But the roots concern me.

In 1 Peter 2:11 it says: “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.” NIV. (The English Standard version uses “pilgrim and sojourners” for aliens and strangers.)

We are to travel light. Sojourners and pilgrims are going some other place; they do not put down roots. Our citizenship is not of or in this world; we’re just passing through.

Philippians 3:20 says “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,"

John 17:14-16: “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.”

If we are not of this world, then we’re just sojourners and pilgrims on a mission greater than our own earthly desires and earthly purposes. Sometimes I feel like a late August dandelion, roots deep and healthy; and if God were to pull me up by my roots, would I go easily?

In Revelations, John writes about the three themes of Revelation—suffering, the kingdom of God, and “patient endurance which are ours in Jesus.” (“I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.” Rev. 1:9)

We are called to travel light and we are called to travel on a mission greater than our selfish agendas. In this kingdom life we may be called to suffer with patient endurance. We are to “go and make disciples”. We need to be careful not to set down our roots too deep. Being too well anchored in the things of the world can be a spiritual problem for us.

Brothers and sisters travel light, be willing to be used of God. To be used of God may require some “uprooting” as it were of our own agenda. So, when the Lord calls us to a new work or mission or if He calls us home. Let’s let go from this world easily; let’s move on with joy.

Pilgrim on brothers and sisters, sojourn into eternity, to God’s glory. Amen.