I saw an amazing thing happen one Spring. We had just moved into our present home. I was clearing some brush away and saw a medium sized tree that had been split and bent nearly to the ground. It was being supported by the trees around it. I only left it alone because my children asked me to leave it for them to climb and play on. The thing that amazed was that the following year the tree was full of green leaves and sprouting new branches. I couldn't help but think of the words of Lord Jesus:
Matthew 12:20 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
Just like a bruised reed or damaged tree that still has life in it, we all know someone that seems to be a "lost cause"; it seems that this person could never be saved. But don't give up on him/her. Jesus is telling us here in Matthew 12:20 that a person still has a chance... a hope of being saved until the day of judgment. Until Jesus returns continue to pray for the lost and love them; have faith. Hope is fueled by our love and faith so... YOU CAN KEEP HOPE ALIVE!
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
-1Corinthians 13:13
Oh, by the way... I was widely thought of as a "lost cause" (big understatement) to many in my home town. You should have seen the mouths drop when some old aquaintances saw me at a local event shamelessly speaking of what Jesus had done for me.
I think back now to the trees that were supporting the fallen tree. Had it not been for the support from the surrounding trees keeping the other tree from completely falling then the fallen tree would have probably died. That "lost cause" that you may know may be "bruised" and needs support.
