Why a Faith That Lasts Must Go Deep

Quick show of hands. Are you a real Christmas tree person? How many of you cut down your own tree?

It’s always good to know who owns chainsaws.

I grew up with fake Christmas trees. Back then, they were really bad fake trees. Today, they look almost perfect. They never drop needles. They never need water. They look alive.

But no matter how realistic they appear, they are still plastic. They will never grow. You can water them, plant them in the ground, and give them sunlight. Nothing will happen. They are not alive.

Unlike fake trees, every person has a root system. The question is not whether you have roots. The question is where you are putting them.

Some of us plant our roots in comfort. Others in control. Some in success, approval, or how many people liked our latest post online. And it matters, because whatever you are rooted in will determine the stability of your life.

Paul says a life built to last is rooted in Jesus.

Rooted in Him

Paul writes: “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2:6–7)

The main command is simple: continue to live your lives in him.

Everything else in the verse describes what that looks like. Paul uses three pictures. Being rooted in him, being built up in him, and being strengthened in the faith. These are not three separate activities you rotate through. They are three interwoven images of one reality, a life lived in Christ.

Let’s focus on being rooted.

The word Paul uses refers to something established in the past with ongoing results. When you gave your life to Jesus, your roots were planted. From that moment on, the Holy Spirit began producing growth beneath the surface.

Why Roots Matter

Scripture uses the image of roots often. Psalm 1 describes the righteous person as a tree planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season, with leaves that do not wither. The contrast is clear. Trees near water thrive because they receive constant nourishment.

Jesus used the same imagery in the parable of the sower. He warned that some people receive God’s word with joy but have no root. When trouble comes, they fall away. Initial growth without roots never leads to lasting endurance or impact.

Here’s the irony. No one ever compliments a tree’s roots. We admire the leaves. We decorate the branches. We take pictures of the canopy. But it’s the unseen roots that keep the tree alive.

The same is true of our faith. The parts no one sees are often the most important.

Paul wants us rooted in Christ because roots do three essential things. They provide nourishment by drawing life from Jesus. They provide stability by anchoring us during storms. And they enable growth, because deeper roots always produce greater fruit.

Where Are Your Roots?

Before you figure out your major, your career, or your next move, figure out your roots.

If you’re not sure where your roots are planted, that can change. Roots do not grow by accident. They grow where they are planted.

The first step is surrendering your life to Jesus. Receiving Christ Jesus as Lord. That is where roots begin.

For those who have already taken that step, staying rooted is not about being busier, flashier, or trying harder. It’s about staying connected to a Person. Drawing life from him.

You might say, “I’m not seeing any progress.” What we often forget is that roots grow off-screen. Slowly. Quietly. Faithfulness beneath the surface always precedes fruit above it.

Two Trees

Let me close with the picture of two trees.

One looks great on the surface. Full. Symmetrical. Perfect for photos. But its roots are shallow. When the storm comes, it topples.

The other tree is not perfect on the outside. But its roots go deep. Storms come and go, and it still stands.

That’s Paul’s invitation. Be rooted in Christ. Do not settle for looking alive. Be alive.

Fake trees may sparkle for a season. But real trees grow. And they bear fruit.

So which tree do you want to be?

At Calvary, let’s be a church with roots that run deep in Jesus, so that we might bear fruit for generations to come.