FLOURISH TO WITHSTAND AND STAND

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to WITHSTAND in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND – Ephesians 6:13

Another unique quality of the Palm Tree is that it FLOURISHES to WITHSTAND adverse climates and conditions, and to STAND! The palm tree will not break even under strong winds of storms which uproot and break lesser trees. God’s Word admonishes: “take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to WITHSTAND in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND” (Eph.6:13). To the world, Paul’s rhetoric is not politically correct and the imagery of the soldier is unpopular. While today some have banned “Onward Christian Soldiers” from the hymnal, the truth is that Christianity is Spiritual Warfare, and if every Christian’s house is like a military camp, every regiment would be equipped and ready for battle. Then, every congregation becomes a training camp for understanding the enemy and being empowered and equipped for the battle. There is no room to negotiate with the devil.

Palm trees grow in tropical climates, under conditions that would be deadly to some other types of trees. But that which is deadly to another is life-giving to a palm.  Indeed, the hotter it is the more the palm seems to flourish. They are extremely strong and can withstand severe weather, even monsoons; they are flexible and bend in the storms rather than break. Their root system is so secure that palm trees are hardly ever known to be uprooted by a storm. Like the palm, we who are made righteous by God, are to grow straight and stand tall. Even if the storms of life batter us we are flexible in nature and steadfast in God’s Word so that we are neither broken nor uprooted. In hard times and good times we flourish like the palm. The righteous flourish in heat – that is, in times of distress, trial, and persecution. The storms of life may come but the palm tree does not break. The child of God can withstand whatever storm he or she may face. Paul affirmed: “I can do all things…through Christ which strengthens me” (Phil.4:13).

Palm trees have root systems that branch out way deeper than the branches that are seen above ground. Their roots grow so far down into the soil that some have been known to go more than a kilometer down into the earth. This root system enables the palm to stand strong on the shore during extreme storms such as hurricanes and tornadoes. If seen from the underground view the palm tree would appear so much bigger than what is seen above ground. Thus, they are empowered to withstand the storms that come, and to keep standing against the extremes of nature. The Church is the Body of Christ; while believers are “rooted and grounded” like trees in this body (Eph.3:17). We are to be “rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith” (Col. 2:7). The roots of the Palm Tree saint have been grounded and established so far below the earth that he or she is able to stand and overcome through years of challenges and trials. He or she is willing to stand up for the faith, no matter how costly it is. There are many such wonderful believers who live and serve in places where standing up for the Christian faith is difficult, indeed life-threatening!

Above all, the palm tree can withstand abuse. Whereas the heart of an ordinary tree is dead, the heart of the palm tree is alive. The life of the palm tree is on the inside. Outward abuse does not affect the life or quality of the palm tree. We, as believers in Christ have life deep within our hearts; hence, we have dominion over sin. The life of the child of God is within: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor.4:16). God has enabled us in Himself, to withstand all satanic oppositions and “stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free” (Gal.5:1).