Am I a Perennial or Annual Christian?

My wedding was held in the backyard of my childhood home. My hubby and I designed a walk-thru flower garden across the back yard. One day while I was working in the flower garden, I began to think about the differences between the annuals and the perennials. The annuals were beautiful and showy with vibrant colors with very little work, but the perennials required lots of nurturing and took much longer to blossom. We could buy a whole tray of annuals for  $1-3 but one pot of a perennial would cost at least $8. As I was thinking about this, God began to deal with me. Am I a perennial or an annual? Am I just beautiful and showy for one season or am I growing my roots and preparing to bloom year after year? At times, we may take a look around the church and put our judge spectacles on. We look at Sis. Shout and say “She is on fire for God”. Then we look at Bro. Pew Sitter and say “He wasting his time”. However, little do we know that Sis. Shout is about to shout right out the door and Br. Sitter is soaking in the word.  At the same time, we don’t see the impact Sis. Shout’s dance is having on someone else that may be struggling with praise or the seeds her worship is dropping throughout the church. Never discount the impact each church member is having or will have in the church. The garden needs every flower and it makes use of each and every flower. Let’s look at some differences between an annual Christian and a perennial Christian.

So now, lets look at the contrast between an annual versus perennial spiritually. In the parable of the sower, the seed represents the word of God. We see that the seed falls on four different types of soil. The seed that fell on stony ground, received the word with gladness, but it had no root (Mk 4:16-17). We have to be careful not to uproot ourselves from church to church or  miss service after service. At some point the roots will begin to suffer. Once our roots are damaged, the slightest storms (life’s problems) can wash us away. In Matthew 15:12-14, Christ refers to his kingdom as a garden. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Here we see that we have annuals and perennials residing together in the garden. They each have a purpose but the time will come and all that were not planted by the Father will be uprooted. God is telling us not to worry about them because they are willfully spiritually blind. Make sure that you are searching the scriptures to make sure your leader is not leading you into the ditch. 

The book of Jude warns against apostasy. Apostasy is a fancy word for backsliding or turning away from Christ. An annual is someone who does not seek to know the truth in God’s word. You may attend church but you do not search the scriptures for yourself. In verses 12-13, “these are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever”. As a Christian, we are taught to accept everyone. However, we must STAY WOKE. Know who has rule over you. Make sure you know who is in the midst of you. Jude is warning us about false teachers who have no fear coming into the church and making promises but delivering nothing.

II Peter 1:9 but he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Peter warns us about some of the false teachers. We have to go beyond confessing with our mouth and become fruitful. An annual will do the “repeat after me” prayer and think that they are done. However, when we receive Christ, our Work has just begun.

Attributes of an Annual Christian

I Peter 1:6-7… though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith~~of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire~~ may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Sin easily hides where there are no trials or afflictions. Trials come to sift us. Trials bring impurities out just as fire brings impurities to the top as gold is heated. Trials teach us patience and strengthen our faith in God and in the power of his might. Trials come to make us useful in the kingdom. Below I list a few characteristics that will halt the growth of a child of God.

1. Unforgiving~ Satan is an accuser of the brethren. He will bring a spirit of condemnation and guilt to discourage you and make you look inwardly. Christ brings a Spirit of Repentance that although it points out our wrongdoing; it takes focus off self and puts it on God’s grace. Condemnation brings you down, but repentance brings you out.

Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly father will also forgive you, but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. When we re-present to others the forgiveness, love, and compassion that Christ has shown us, we demonstrate that we have received Christ’s goodness. When we shun our brother or sister, we have done the same to God. His forgiveness is there for us but when we refuse to forgive those who have hurt us, we negate Christ’s mercy in our own life.                                                                                                       

2. Easily Offended~ People who are not rooted in Christ are easily offended. Offended Christians often cut off their ability to bear fruit. They may have gifts because gifts are given and fruit is cultivated. Don’t be deceived by looking at someone’s talents. God said we would know them by their Fruit.  Matthew 24:10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. Even though we should not be offensive, the truth offends. We cannot apologize for the gospel (Pr. 24:24). Matthew 18:7 tells us that offences will come, but woe unto that man by whom offences come. We have to be careful not to be a stumbling block in our brothers and sister’s walk with Christ. Teaching should be in love and not to create a debate or quarrels.     
3.  Seeking Knowledge, Not God John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. We cannot just seek to know the scriptures as the Pharisees did. We must get to know the Jesus that the scriptures teach us about.  II Corinthians 4:3-4 says but if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine upon them. The gospel is open to everyone unless you refuse to believe. Satan blinds us with lust, power, and addictions. What could be blinding you? 
   When the great sifting comes, we see who has a revelation of Christ and who only has a knowledge of the scriptures. Lets look at Peter and Judas. Both were a disciple of Christ and walked with him. Peter had a revelation of who Jesus is (Mt. 16:16), but Judas did not have a revelation even though he had the same experiences with Christ as Peter. When the sifting came, Peter denied Christ three times and Judas sold Christ for 30 pieces of silver. Both of these men betrayed Christ and were remorseful (Mt 26:75 & Mt 27:3). However, Peter had his revelation of Christ to fall back on. Peter was stripped of all his self-confidence and impulsiveness, but was left with his confidence in God. Judas on the other hand, had nothing left and in his remorse he committed suicide. Let us not wait for a sifting to learn who God is. Take the time NOW to get to know Christ!              
4. Pride~ keeps us from seeing our true condition. Pride will always make you think you are the victim. Pride is the root cause of many sins. Proverbs 16:18 says Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Pride leads to cursing and lying (Ps 59:12). Pride will also keep you from praying (Ps 10:4).                

  Paul who is the greatest apostle, counted all that he had done for Christ as dung (Phil. 3:8). Paul said it was all loss when compared to the greatness of knowing Christ. Our relationship with Christ should be our greatest asset. That thing you love more than Christ will keep you out of the kingdom. 

5. Lazy/Slothful/Lack of Endurance~ Slothfulness can be the end result of many spirits. The bible compares a lazy man to an unconscious man (Pr 19:15). A lazy man is void of understanding, yet are not those the people who love to give advice? The sluggard always has the most useless excuse (Prov 26:13). Laziness breeds more laziness. Set a goal today and make plans to reach it. Pray for strength and endurance and watch God do the rest. We cannot justify laziness or lack of a plan because of life’s uncertainty. We must trust in God regardless of our situation or predicament. If we wait for the perfect pastor or the perfect church, we will remain lost. If we are always looking to the weather, we will never sow. Ecc. 11:5 Laziness will rid you of your hope and your faith. Hope in eternal life and faith in God will keep us pressing forward till the end.  This race is not given to the swift , but to him that endureth unto the end (Mt 24:13).  When we start getting tired or feeling life’s pressures, plant yourself, stand firm, and remember that our hope is in Christ Jesus. Begin to quote the scriptures over your life. Jesus will never leave us, nor forsake us. No weapon formed against me will prosper. If God be for us, who can be against us? I am a child of God and a joint heir with Christ. I am blessed. Just keeping speaking the word of God. 

Remember, God said that I would that all have eternal life and not die off like annuals. If there is the slightest possibility that you have any of these traits, repent and convert. To repent is to change your mind to sin and ask for forgiveness and to convert is to make a change in direction and walk toward God. Also, remember that the reason an annual produces so many blooms is so that they can produce seed. That seed will fall in a different position and can fall on good ground. This is one reason “judge not” is so important. We are so quick to judge someone by appearance or even their gifts. Even Christ said, I judge not by mine eyes neither reprove by the hearing of my ears, but with righteousness shall I judge (Is 11:5). We know not the end result of a plant (soul) or the seeds that it may produce. Therefore, we should not shun or belittle anyone. Remember, that every plant has a purpose in the garden.