“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh?” (Job 8:11)

The papyrus plant can be compared to false believers who have common faith in Christ, without counting the cost, and wither and die when temptations and trials come. There are those who receive the Word of God, and immediately the devil comes and takes the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. Others have common  faith in Christ for a short time, having received the Word with joy, but because they have no root, they fall away when they’re tempted. Others, have a common faith in Christ for a good while, but the Word is choked by the cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and they bring no fruit to maturity (Luke 8:11-15).

Lord, reveal to me if I’m a false believer. The papyrus by nature lives in water, and owes its very existence to the mud and moisture in which it lives; if the mud gets dry, papyrus withers very quickly. Its greenness is absolutely dependent upon circumstances, a present abundance of water makes it flourish, and a drought eventually destroys it. Is this my case? Do I only serve God when I’m in good company, or when religion is profitable and respectable? Do I love the Lord only when I feel good, and stop serving Him when I feel bad?

Am I a hypocrite, who like the papyrus, will die when I’m deprived of outward joys? Do I honestly believe, when my creature comforts are removed, and the trials exceed the pleasures, I’ll continue to serve the Lord?

The papyrus can’t grow without mud, but God’s plants flourish in every season. A godly man not only survives, but gets even stronger in the dry season. He who follows Christ for His bread and fishes constantly looks for signs to keep following; but saints stay with Him out of love, and say to Christ, “to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life … You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69).