The Brazilian walnut tree is majestic in size and strength. But this beautiful tree has one enemy, the strangler fig. When a strangler fig seed lands on the walnut tree, its roots begin to descend to the ground. As it grows, the vines of the fig squeeze and choke the walnut tree. The fig’s grip on the tree becomes so great that the vine-encased tree slowly dies. Over time, all that is left are twisting vines in the form of a tree. The tree itself has long since disintegrated. Only a vine structure in the shape of a tree remains, while the inside is hollow and lifeless.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":0,"template":"","tax_ctp_audience":[],"tax_ctp_authors":[],"tax_ctp_categories":[165],"tax_ctp_format":[171],"tax_ctp_illustration_types":[411],"tax_ctp_multimedia":[],"tax_ctp_point_editor":[],"tax_publications":[140],"tax_ctp_tags":[3677,3685,3696,3737,4104,4245,4391,4526,4670,4827,4977,5004,5028,5090,5158],"tax_ctp_topics":[],"class_list":["post-47282","sermon-illustrations","type-sermon-illustrations","status-publish","hentry","tax_publications-ct-pastors","tax_ctp_tags-consequences-of-sin","tax_ctp_tags-control","tax_ctp_tags-cost","tax_ctp_tags-death","tax_ctp_tags-growth","tax_ctp_tags-influence","tax_ctp_tags-loss","tax_ctp_tags-nature","tax_ctp_tags-power","tax_ctp_tags-results","tax_ctp_tags-sin","tax_ctp_tags-small-things","tax_ctp_tags-sowing-reaping","tax_ctp_tags-struggle-against-sin","tax_ctp_tags-threats"],"acf":{"scripture_references":[{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null},{"first_verse":null,"add_second_verse":false,"second_verse":null}]},"yoast_head":"\n