The Vision

While before the Lord, in the spirit I saw a Golden Vine coming down from above.  It's roots were in the heavens above and its branches were heavy laden with good fruit that glowed with a marvelous light.   This heavenly vine shot downward to meet the earth where it grew.  As it reached the earth I could see another vine whose roots were planted in the earth's soil.   When the Golden Vine met the vine of the earth, it became intertwined with the earthly vine.  The earthly vine's branches were also heavy laden with fruit.  The fruit looked good to eat but I could see that is was deceiving fruit.  This fruit paled in comparison to the fruit hanging from the Golden Vine.  Moreover, the earthly vine's fruit had no light of its own.  Instead, it was dependent on the light that emanated from the fruit of the Golden Vine.  

The Message

There are two vines which the Lord has planted.  The brown vine is the vine of the earth which is planted in the soil from which it receives nourishment to grow and bear fruit.  In the beginning, everything that God had created was good.  It was only after the fall of man that His creation took a turn away from Him and instead, relied upon itself.  The golden vine is also planted by God with its roots in heaven.  Moreover, this heavenly vine is receiving its nourishment to grow and prosper from the Heavenly One.  This new vine is not of this world, but has come down to earth to grow and give light to the earth's vine.   Jesus Christ is the true vine.  The vine that is of God's spirit also produces the fruit of the Spirit and a light that shines through the darkness.  The earthly vine's fruit, while somewhat pleasing to the eye, had no light--it was the fruit of darkness.  Likewise, man, living apart from the Lord, cannot produce genuine fruit.  For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Because of that, the supposed "good works" performed by man produces no lasting results.

Scripture References

Psalm 104:31, Isaiah 5:1-4,  Titus 3:4-8, Matthew 11:2-6, Luke 10:16-24, John 15:1-6 & 16:13-15, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 2:4-10 & 5:8-18 

The Painting

Original size:  34" x 41"  Gouache on watercolor paper
Prints:  Available by special order only.