Staying in the Water: What Happens When We Abide

TWEEEEET!!!! At the shrill sound of the lifeguard’s whistle, the pool would clear out, leaving only a few adults in the water and sending all of us kids to our towels for some Red Vines, crackers and Easy Cheese, and Capri Suns. For the next ten minutes we would snack, enjoy the warm summer sunshine, and chat until the whistle blew again and we were cleared to go back in the water, where we would stay until forced to leave again. 

Were it not for the obligatory rest (snack) time each hour, I would have remained in the pool from the moment we arrived until forced to leave by my mom or another accompanying adult. There was simply no better summer activity. 

Ezekiel didn’t see a public pool in the vision he recorded in chapter 47 of his book, but he did observe plenty of water. It started as a trickle but eventually deepened enough to swim in. In this river, Ezekiel found every type of aquatic creature. Along its fertile banks, trees flourished, nourished by the soil. 

“Everywhere the river goes,” Ezekiel said, “there will be life” (v. 9). This river is a picture of life in the kingdom of Christ: full, abundant, never-ending, free from the contamination of sin. I don’t know about you, but I would love to immerse myself in this river and never get out. 

Of course, one day when Christ returns as the conquering King, that dream will become a reality in all its perfection. However, as we await the fullness of the kingdom, we can take our shoes off and begin to wade into the current now. But how? To find out, let’s turn our Bibles from the prophecy of Ezekiel to the Gospel of John and change our metaphor from water to the harvest field. 

In talking with His disciples the night before He was crucified, Jesus used the illustration of a vine and called His followers to abide in Him. To put it in terms of Ezekiel 47, Jesus called His disciples to “stay in the water.” This, at its core, is a call to keep believing, to fight for faith, and to hold tight to every promise of God. As you do, you will begin to experience the life-giving flow Ezekiel foresaw. 

While abiding may not always be easy, Christ promised that it will be worth it. Stay with me in John 15 as we explore what happens when we “stay in the water” and “abide in the vine.”

You’ll Reap Fruit

I’m not a farmer, but even I know that without a crop, the harvest is worthless. A corn stalk that grows six feet high but has no corn does the farmer no good. Likewise, a mighty and picturesque apple tree that grows only mealy, inedible apples serves no purpose. A farmer would be justified to cut it down and start again. 

Jesus warned His disciples that they would become like these useless branches if they failed to produce fruit (John 15:6). But this failure wasn’t because they weren’t skilled, talented, or gifted enough. It wasn’t a reflection of their environment, upbringing, or culture. Branches fail to produce fruit primarily for one reason: they’re not abiding in the vine. 

“Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me.” (John 15:4)

As we abide in Christ—living according to His Word and His promises—we’ll see a harvest of fruit. This type of fruit isn’t measured on a scale or tracked on a spreadsheet. This fruit grows as a work of the Holy Spirit, developing the character of Christ in the “branches.” Paul gave a non-exhaustive list to the Galatians: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (5:22–23). 

As we stay in the water that flows from God’s throne, or as we abide in the Vine (to use the metaphor of John 15), the fruit will come. However, in order for that harvest to appear, the master Gardener must get out His clippers. 

You’ll Experience Pruning

Each November we thank God for the blessings of the past year, a tradition that coincides with the year’s harvest. It comes naturally to rejoice in the good gift of a bountiful crop. However, that crop doesn’t come without any work. While we abide, we’re promised not just fruit but the pruning that comes with it: 

“Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.” (John 15:2)

As branches in the vineyard of God, we must submit ourselves to the Gardener’s pruning as He cuts back and trims areas that inhibit growth. For the branches, this can seem painful as it's happening, but the Gardener knows that ultimately it will make the branch even more useful. 

So, He tenderly and skillfully snips our dependence on finances or physical gifts; He applies His shears to a relationship or an affection that has grown out of proportion. He never takes more than He should, and He always prunes with our good and His glory in mind. For this reason, our Christian brothers call us to rejoice in the pruning. 

And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:3–5)

Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2–4)

Pruning hurts in the moment. We’re never called to rejoice in the pain, nor are we called to go looking for it. However, as we abide in the Vine, we remember that the Gardener is also our Father who lovingly and purposefully trains us to make us more fruitful—to make us more like His Son (Heb. 12:4–11). 

You’ll Know Fullness of Joy

Maybe you read about pruning and want nothing more to do with this abiding thing. You’d rather keep your feet out of that pool, thank you very much. But Jesus promised His disciples something else. In the midst of warning them about the trouble they were going to encounter in His absence—not just pruning from their heavenly Father but hatred from the world and temptation from the devil—He promised them fullness of joy. 

“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

It’s easy to think of the Christian life and abiding in Christ as spinach and broccoli: yeah, they might be good for you, but they sure don’t taste very good or bring much pleasure. What we really want is some ice cream with absolutely no nutritional value, just sweet, creamy, decadent deliciousness. 

We think that’s what we’ll find if we follow our own hearts. We truly believe that fullness of joy will be found at the end of the rainbow of our feelings. But Jesus promised otherwise. 

The joy we’re looking for (the delectable ice cream, if you will) isn’t found in pursuing our own pleasures but in the Vine. It’s found in Christ Himself! He isn’t selling us a subpar product. No, He’s giving away the real deal and protecting us from the fake that will lead to misery and, ultimately, destruction.

Though we look forward to the day when we’ll be able to enjoy the river of life for all eternity, we can begin to reap its rewards in the here and now as we abide in the vine of Christ. The fruit and even the pruning are sure to bring fullness of joy. 

Has Cindy’s blog post motivated you to more faithfully abide in Christ? To help you take hold of God’s promises, we’d love to send you the 50 Promises to Live By Card Set this month as our thanks for your donation of any amount to help women thrive in Christ. May it be a constant reminder of God’s unchanging care.