“His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon” (Hosea 14:6). Grafting and budding are the most widely used vegetative propagation methods used in agriculture. According to (Britannica.com), Grafting is defined as the act of placing a portion of one plant (bud or scion) into or on a stem, root, or branch of another (stock) in such a way that a union will be formed and the partners will continue to grow. It’s a means of growth control used extensively with fruit trees and ornamentals such as roses and junipers. The video below explained the practical ways by which grafting is carried out. Symbolically and by inspiration, Paul the Apostle used this illustration to explain how the Church of Christ is being grafted into the original Olive tree, which is very significant in Israel and also symbolizes the tree of life.
Then “the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree”. Please look at Romans 11:16-24, the fall of Israel resulted in Gentiles being grafted into the original tree. In essence, the root of a tree is a very important part of any plant. It is the foundation, strength, and stability of a tree to grow. The roots of the Olive tree go deep down to about 20 feet, this makes it possible for the Olive tree to bear fruits for as long as 100 years. And “if the root is holy, so are the branches”. The church was grafted into the tree to provoke Israel into jealousy and at the same, it was in the original plan of Sovereign God that all men should be saved. Therefore, the Christian life is a grafted life, the mingling of two lives of the divinity of God’s grace and humanity. This implies that human life has the divine life within it through the work of grace as its content, and the divine life has the human life as its expression. As a result, Christians are to walk in the spirit in order to fulfill the purpose of God.
It is imperative for us to walk in life and live according to the spirit and do nothing without Christ, the Captain of our salvation. We need to walk humbly and obey God’s word because He is not a respecter of person. Christ makes it clear to all Christians and declared, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned” (John 15:1-6).In view of this, Christians need to be watchful and vigilant because there’s nothing like eternal security in God’s agenda. The moment you slide into sin like King Saul and Judas Iscariot and you remained in the backsliding state till death strike, you missed it forever.
Again, the disobedient of the Jews and their rejection by God are lessons for us to learn. This should make us fear Him in all things we do or say. Israel thought that they have the law and the privileged position with God, their familiarity with God caused them to became proud and boastful with the lifestyle of holier than thou attitude. Nevertheless, God who is rich in mercy will not cast them off forever; He has prepared their full restoration after the consummation of the church. Therefore, don’t miss the rapture, my dear readers, let's examine ourselves daily in the mirror of God's word and be like the psalmist and declared, “But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever” (Psalm 52:8). It's too late to look back.
Remained rapturable!