“Knocked Down But Not Out”

“Knocked Down But Not Out”

October 18, 2017

At least two years ago, along a trail I enjoy walking, a tall cedar tree fell over. I assumed that within a short time the beautiful green branches would turn brown and die – but that did not happen. Although no longer standing upright, the tree remained very much alive.

When the tree fell, it exposed a major portion of its roots, but not all of them. Over the years, its roots had grown deep into the ground and some remained connected. That tree is still very much alive – knocked down but not out.

The Parks Department cut a portion of the trunk away, leaving just a thin slab for a seat – a resting place for people to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Even that did not stop the tree from drawing sufficient nourishment to stay alive. It offers an amazing statement of endurance.

As I pondered the tree, I remembered the words of the Apostle Paul in Second Corinthians 4:9. He was recounting the hardships of his life in ministry when he declared, “thrown down but not broken.” Paul was a realist. He knew that some people hated him for talking about Jesus as the only way to Creator God and eternal life. They wanted him dead and worked at making that happen.

But Paul was not a quitter. They could knock him down, but they could not knock him out. Like the tree that has deep-rooted connections to nourishment, Paul’s spiritual anchor was in God’s Truth, and he was motivated by love to serve Jesus.

I appreciate the fact that Paul admitted the hurts in his life journey. He did not portray an image of life aloof from challenge and heartache. But he did not give up when the going got tough. They could knock him over, but they could not knock him out. I want to be like him, because Paul’s attitude reflects that of His Mentor – Jesus.

Pastor Bill Ehmann

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT POSTS

“Pleasure”

By webteam | July 22, 2015 | 0 Comments

July 22, 2015 Ponder Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, had opportunities to experience every pleasure known to man at that time. His description of what he owned and enjoyed is nearly beyond our imagination. But his conclusion was that it […]

“Peace Like a River”

By webteam | July 15, 2015 | 0 Comments

July 15, 2015 Ponder There is something about watching a river that brings a feeling of peace. Waterfalls speak of power and beauty. The ocean seems endless. But a flowing river makes a statement of calm. A small stream or […]

“In His Time”

By webteam | July 15, 2015 | 0 Comments

July 8, 2015 Ponder Timing is a factor in all that happens on Planet Earth.  It is interesting to remember that the timeless Creator God designed our world to operate continually and completely in the context of time.  The writer […]

“Small Spark – Big Impact”

By webteam | July 1, 2015 | 0 Comments

July 1, 2015 Ponder Strong winds blew small sparks from one rooftop to the next until 29 homes were destroyed. It happened so quickly that the occupants had only minutes to escape. Firefighters were frustrated in their efforts to put […]

Scroll to Top