“I am the true vine and my Father is the Gardner.” (NASB)

John 15:1

When I was a kid there was a television game show that I would watch from time to time called To Tell the Truth. It was a fairly simple game.  Three contestants would claim to be the same person.  Two of them were lying. Only one of the contestants was the actual person.  A panel of celebrities would ask them questions to try to determine who was telling the truth. The two impostors had to lie.  The actual person had to tell the truth. After a certain number of questions the host would say something like, “Would the real Doug Hunt please stand up?” Then, in semi-dramatic fashion, the person who was the true “Doug Hunt” or whomever would stand. 

In John 15:1 Jesus states, “I am the true vine.” Think about what He is saying and implying.  Nourishment for the fruit flows through the vine.  There is no other source. So why would Jesus feel the need to clarify that He is “the true vine?” There is an important detail in that statement that has to be considered as well to have the full grasp of what Jesus is saying.  He does not say that He is “a” true vine but “the” true vine. 

The nourishment that is needed for fruit to grow on the branches must come from the vine of that tree.  There is no other way.  The branch has to be connected continually, held, kept, abiding in the vine.  In our world you will always encounter other “vines” that claim to be the ones that will fill you with what you need for a good, joyfull, and successful life. Those “vines” come in many different forms such as success, approval, acceptance, just to name a few. This brings all of us to this question;

Am I depending on fake vines, hoping they will give me what I need for a life of joy, satisfaction, and meaning?

There is nothing wrong with being successful in the various aspects of life. We should work hard and do our best in all things. But, you will never experience the life God has for you if you treat success as your “vine” for life. This leads to the question, “where should I start if I need to turn away from other vines and be dependent on the true vine?”  As Andrew Murray wrote, “The answer is not difficult. Believe first of all what He says; “I am the Vine.” He really will be to you all that a vine can be – holding you fast, nourishing you, and making Himself every moment responsible for your growth and fruit.”  Start with your belief that He is who He says He is, Everything you need.

Do you truly believe that Jesus offers everything you need for a full life of joy and satisfaction?

Begin in prayer by asking the Father to help you see what you really believe and then asking Him to increase your belief in Him.