July 13, 2009
There we were in an incredible, pristine Costa Rican rainforest. Our biologist guide had led us to one of the most amazing trees I have ever seen – the Strangler Fig. What a diabolical epiphyte. Here’s what it does: Seeds of the strangler fig land in the canopy of a healthy massive rainforest tree – typically in the form of bird crap. (Remember, it all starts with crap.) The seeds begin to take root and send shoots all the way down to the ground around the trunk of the healthy host tree. The shoots take root, drawing nutrients from the soil around the base of the tree, and begin to grow rapidly. The shoots grow and grow until they completely surround the host tree trunk. The tree ends up completely encompassed by the Strangler Fig which chokes the life out of the tree until it dies. A mature Strangler Fig is hollow on the inside where the host tree used to thrive. It is now a hollow representation of the host tree’s former glory.
Wow. This tree is a graphic illustration of the strategy of the enemy in our lives. Jesus told us that Satan is a liar – it’s his native tongue. The enemy attacks us with lies. He plants lies in our hearts through woundedness (crap). If we do not recognize the lies and counter it with the truth, the lies will take root. This is where the trouble starts. Lies that are not dealt with in our hearts will slowly grow and end up choking out the life that God intended for us. We end up a hollow representation of the glory that the Lord called us into.
We need to be aware of the lies that the enemy is trying to plant in our hearts. When we have a thought that is a lie – contrary to the truth of God – we need to deal with it. Don’t believe it. Take it captive and throw it out. Do not let it take root – it will choke out the life that God has for you.
Take your thoughts captive and don’t let the lies of the enemy take root. Don’t put up with his crap.
2 Corinthians 10:5
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
Strength and courage,
David