Desert or Rose?

Today as I was watering the trees, shrubs and tropical plants in the lawn and garden center at Walmart, I noticed an unusual looking plant I hadn't noticed before. It was so unusual I just had to snap a picture of it. Then I looked at the name of it. It's called a "desert rose." Just seeing that name got me to thinking. *Please note: I do not profess to be a writer and certainly am not eloquent in my writing. However, I am capable of writing (or typing) out the thoughts that come to my mind. Here goes...

This plant has two words in its name. First is desert. Now, when I think of the word "desert," I think of dry, arid, barren, empty, lifeless. I thought how our life without Christ is dry, empty, lifeless. Yes, it may seem like you have a full and happy life. But without Christ, it's truly not as happy as it feels. In fact, it's going to lead to a torturous eternity.

The second word is rose. When I think of a rose, I think of beautiful, fragrant, fragile. When we accept Jesus into our hearts and commit to live our lives for Him, he makes our lives beautiful and fragrant. Now, I'm not saying life is perfect when we become Christians. He has promised anything but an easy road. However, following Him is totally worth it. Yes, our lives are also fragile because of sin that so easily ensnares us. Clinging close to Christ can protect us from that sin.

Thinking about the desert, I certainly don't think of roses. I think of cacti. However, when I put things into my Christian viewfinder, I realize that, even in the desert, roses can be found.

He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground in flowing springs. Psalm 107:35