This is the second of two Parts of a reflection on the spikiness of the Pomegranate. In Part 1 we looked at the Pomegranate plant and its usefulness to God and man in the Bible. In Part 2 I reflect on the problem of spikiness.
Spines Hurt!
But what are those Pomegranate spines for? Well, the plant needs to be on the defensive! Yes it wants the fruit to be taken away and eaten, but many animals such as foraging deer might also like to eat the rest of the bush too. The spines are a defence mechanism.
For all its spikiness the pomegranate is also a symbol of fruitfulness. As far as I know there are no varieties of pomegranate that are not covered in spines, though I am sure Man in his “cleverness” could produce spine free bushes. (There is a genetic link between high yield and spininess in the Gooseberry plant but the breeders have worked out how to “break the link”!)
Reasons for spikiness
I know some people are spiky too – but, like the pomegranate, for them one reason might be that it is a defence mechanism, to keep people who have or might hurt them at arms length.
I have found four reasons mentioned for spikiness as an adopted behaviour.
Stress causes a release of cortisol which triggers a “fight-or-flight” reaction making people more likely to snap, be short tempered or engage in defensive behaviour.
Chronic anxiety & fatigue can both cause hyperstimulation which can leave the person feeling uptight, tense, and jumpy.
Trauma and fear of failure can both produce a strong need to feel safe; a deep fear of failure can also result in defensive, “prickly” behaviour.
Frustration may cause feelings of being overwhelmed, produce low self-esteem or make us feel different from others. This can spill over into anger and aggression.
There are many people who have suffered hurts from the past which hold back their future, but like the pomegranate they too have the potential to produce an abundant fruitfulness.
Fruitfulness not spikiness
God did not intend us to be spiky. Our purpose is not to be spiky but to be fruitful. As a Christian, I believe every one is made by God, in His image, for a reason – to be fruitful in God’s purposes – and that Jesus Christ died on the Cross to set us free to be the people we were created to be.
Ephesians 2:10 says that “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
John 8:36 says ‘So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. ‘
Spikiness in pomegranates and in people may be a defence mechanism. But knowing and then living out God’s love, with His provision and by His protection, make a person’s spikiness redundant and brings freedom and the ability and willingness to be fruitful in His purposes. On the Cross Jesus died to break the link between sin (and all its ramifications) and death; He restored to those who believe in Him the promise of abundant life.
Spikiness is not part of abundant life. Jesus said: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”(John 10:10)
Pomegranates have an abundance of spines and fruit – but we are made in God’s image not to be abundantly spiky but we are made to be abundant in our fruitfulness.
All references are from the NKJV unless specified otherwise.
John Partis
bearing-kingdom-fruit.com
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