Olives and Jesus
Nature displays the Creator’s truth which lies within each molecule He formed. Nature reveals His intentionality and teach me that He’s also intentional with me. I adore these lessons.
Last week I visited an olive farm here in Texas: Texas Hill Country Olive Co. Doing research for a book, I needed to get up close and personal with trees and fruit and smells and sights of an olive grove.
Side Note: I’ve been writing this novel for three years. I finished already, and have the rejections to prove it. Now I’m back at the drawing board, changing things around, improving the flow, and researching more to add reality to a story set in the 1st century. And since my family in the story has olive groves, I’m learning more about olives. But one of my favoritest things about God is how He’s up to so many things at the same time. Here I am, researching farming techniques, and He overloads me with spiritual truth.
Thank you to Texas Hill Country Olive Co. for being so accommodating. And a special thanks to Mr. Grassia, Orchard Manager, for the tour and great information. The details you shared rocked my world.
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.
I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.
Psalm 52:8 ESV
Lessons From Olives
Branch on the left has fruit. The branch on the top right is a new shoot that will have fruit next year.
Olives produce fruit on one branch at the same time as they prepare for next year’s fruit by growing a new branch.
What a smart plant. One branch laden with olives has another branch growing on top of it with no fruit. The top branch is new growth and won’t have fruit until next year.
That example encourages me to be on the lookout. Where am I producing fruit for the Kingdom now? And where am I growing and preparing to grow fruit in the future?
I should cultivate dreams and ideas AT THE SAME TIME I’m actively serving somewhere else. That way when one area of service ends, the next stands ready to begin.
Olive trees produce better quality under stress
In my mind, a greenhouse environment seems best for plants. Neither too hot or too cold. Exactly enough water. Lots of sunlight and protection from harsh elements.
But olive trees thrive under stress. Orchard managers don’t give the trees as much water as they actually need. As counter-intuitive as that seems, keeping the olives a bit “thirsty” produces better fruit.
How often do I fret under stress? Resist it? Assume it’s causing me to be less productive and certainly less happy? But what if it kept me from the laziness and complacence that weigh me down?
Maybe a little stress keeps me dependent on Jesus and focused on Him.
Acid in olives that make them bitter, keeps pests away.
Mr. Grassia offered me the opportunity to pick an olive and eat it, but warned of its bitterness. I declined. I don’t like olives after they go through whatever they do to get into a can on the grocery store shelf. (Though I do love a good olive oil, particularly as it sautés garlic and has tomato sauce and fresh basil added to it.)
Olives are not a fruit you pick off the tree and pops in your mouth.
BUT— and here comes the spiritual lesson— what if the bitter, difficult trials in my life are actually there to protect me? If I choose to allow trials to drive me straight into my Savior’s arms, then the very bitterness my enemy would like to drag me down with, becomes my lifeboat.
And the closer I am to Jesus, the further away my pests remain.
The very elements in olives that make them so healthy are what protect them from harm.
Olives contain elements with very long names, that I won’t attempt to spell, that make them extremely healthy to consume. They help our heart, circulation, and bones. Their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties benefit us.
Oh, I love this analogy. Because it pictures how the Spirit that promises to abide in me, protects and heals me as I encounter the challenges of this world. I can’t even list all the benefits the indwelling Holy Spirit brings, but they’re there. Whether I can spell them or not!
Olive trees are not only evergreen, you can hardly kill them.
Olive trees might resist pests, but there are diseases that can attack. Weather can batter them. Hostile environments damage, no matter how resilient you are.
HOWEVER— and this is big however— unless you take the roots completely out of the ground, the tree will grow again, even if chopped down. They just keep coming back.
Think about that in our lives. When we’re rooted deep into Jesus, no matter what occurs on the surface, life returns. It’s the promise of the empty tomb. Redemption. Restoration. New life. The conquering of death.
Does if feel like a long time since you’ve been vibrant? Don’t worry. Olives have a lesson for that too. They go dormant when drought comes. They actually change how they use water so they survive. They won’t be fruitful at this time, but they’re set up to produce fruit again when conditions improve. They’ll grow when the time is right.
You too! If a fruitful life seems impossible right now, just rest in Jesus. Sink you roots deep into Him. Wait for Him to bring the spring rains that will restore your soul and vision. He always does.
Where the sun hits the trunk is where the tree will sprout a new branch.
Olive trees are very reactive to the sun, especially on the bark.
Where does Jesus shine on your life? What you expose to the full light of the Son is where growth will occur.
This challenges and encourages me. Challenges, because I foolishly tend to hide my struggles and cover them up, as if He can’t see them. And encourages, because if I expose every part to Him, He will bring new growth.
Like the olive tree, I will be very reactive to the Son when I walk in His light every day.
Want to Be Fruitful?
Did these analogies speak to you like they do to me? I pray we all rest in the Lord’s work and timing. I want to love Him, live for Him, and be fruitful. Like the green olive tree planted in His household!