Can't see the forest for the trees

As we have driven through our subdivisions and main streets of our communities, we have seen many trees being cut.  This is a result of the severe drought we suffered last summer. 

My husband told me we would lose one tree and it is one that would have come down anyway.  He also told me we would have to identify the trees at my father-in-law's property that would have to be cut down also. 

He has a larger place but still, I was expecting about five trees.  As I remained inside with my father-in-law, my husband went outside armed with a can of orange spray paint to identify the trees.  We chatted for a while before my husband returned and I wondered why he had lingered.  How long can it take to identify and mark five trees.

I have to admit, I was not prepared for what I heard.  I have seen many, many homes with countless numbers of trees taken down but surely that would not be us.  I asked my husband...."How many?"  He replied "forty-five."  Forty Five?  I didn't even know there were that many trees on this property. 

As I walked outside, I was overwhelmed at the sight of orange paint indicating which tree had to come down.  They had no life, they had no purpose.  Now they had become a hazard.  You see, hurricane season is quickly coming upon us and with one strong wind, any of those trees could break and cause damage to the home. 

The other stunning factor was the cost.  I was not prepared for that either.  I immediately starting negotiating with my husband.  "Can't we save this one?" "Can't we get a third or fourth or tenth quote?" "Do all of them have to go?" 

It reminded me of the sins in our life that we don't want to let go of.  First, we must make the decision to get rid of the sin in our life, second, we must identify the sin and third, we must just make the decision to do it.

It may come at a cost but the consequences of not "getting rid" of the sin in our life will be more costly in the long run.  One can not enter the kingdom of God with sin in their life.  

God's Word says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  [1 John 1:9]

Some of us may be like I was...trying to hold on to every tree, trying to keep the cost down.  After all, the more trees I kept, the less the cost; but we can not negotiate with God.  He paid the ultimate price.

Had we chosen to hold on to the trees, dead and brittle as they are, the cost in the long run would have been much greater.  And so it is with us, should we decide to hold on to sin, the consequences in the long run can be much more costly and devastating. 

Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees.  Look at the big picture....when we get rid of the sin in our life, we can see God's beauty and His love for us and the sacrifice that He made to offer us an eternal tomorrow. 

Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree can not bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire.  Matthew 7:17-18