One day as the dogs and I were heading home from our walk through the forest, my attention was drawn to an unusual sight. A Pine tree and an Aspen had grown fused together. They had sprouted about twelve inches apart and then grown separately for another foot. After this however they became fused into one another. Their union remained as such for at least another three feet, before they once again grew side by side separated by a few inches and yet forever together.

As I pondered this interesting sight I was reminded of how Christ and the believer also become fused or joined together as one upon our conversion.

1 Corinthians 1:30 “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” NIV

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” NIV

Colossians 2:12 “Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.” NIV

Ephesians 2:6 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” NIV

According to these verses there is no doubt about our union with Christ. We are indeed in Him and He is in us. And yet, how often do I sometimes forget this? How often do I think that I am all alone walking through this life? How often do you think and feel the same way?

But just as the Pine and the Aspen are now fused together forever, both in the seen as well as the unseen underground root systems, so also are we in union with Christ: now in this world in which we walk as well as in the heavenly realms where one day we shall all ascend.

So today as we walk the pathway set before us, may we each remember, whether we feel like it or not, we are not walking alone for wonder of wonders we are in Him and He is in us, together, forever.

Prayer: Father God, how marvelous, how wonderful is Your love for us, that through Christ we have been made one with Him, just as He is one with You. Bless us with a sense of Your continuing presence amidst all we do and say, for indeed we are never alone. In His wonderful name we pray. Amen.

Lynne Phipps Atlin, B.C.