By the wisdom of our heavenly Father, He created us to be interdependent upon the world. What is most vital for our survival upon this planet, aside from leaning upon Him and each other? Trees.
Without trees life cannot exist. Clean air. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. Trees also provide food and medicine for us. Did you happen to start today with something from a tree? A mango? An orange? A banana? Forests are nurseries of life.
Wood is a building block material. It is fashioned into a home, a piece of furniture, a baseball bat. And, you’re reading print on wood fibers.
Trees are pleasing to the eye. Our yards are adorned with trees. Maples. Evergreen spruce. The sweet fragrance from lilac trees.
Trees raise our spirits. They give us limbs to climb, shade to cool, and inspiration. Wisdom “is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed” (Proverbs 3:18). Embrace the tree of life of God’s Word, as our eternal longevity leans upon the REAL Tree of Life.
From St. John’s revelation: “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb through the middle of the street; also, on either side of the river, the Tree of Life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (22:1-2).
In the holy city, New Jerusalem, we won’t need to leave to find botanic beauty. The home prepared for us is lush with the tree of life. And, it’s not unthinkable that the orb of the new earth is a virtual Garden of Eden.
We will draw our strength and vitality from the tree. Consistently, eternally, the newness and freshness of heaven comes with fruit for every month. God’s sustaining providence will forever supply every need.
Our Father in heaven did everything necessary to save us. Jesus came to save the world, not to condemn, but to redeem it. Father God desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. The Good Shepherd actively and willfully seeks out the lost.
We don’t choose God, but in grace He chose us. He makes the unwilling willing. He melts our stubborn and proud hearts. Conviction becomes repentance. Adversaries become friends. Enemies become dear children.
That’s what Father God did for you in His beloved Son. He did everything necessary to get you to the Tree of Life, by getting His Son to the tree of death. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree” (Galatians 3:13).
Convicted by the Holy Spirit, soothed by forgiveness, bearing fruit of faith and good deeds – you are transformed to embrace your Savior. “Blessed are those who wash their robes (in the blood of the Lamb), so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates” (Revelation 22:14).
The new heaven, the new earth, is prepared for you. It is ready for you. And, will be actively brought to you, washed white in the redeeming sacrifice of Your Savior. So that, one day you will reach out, pull fruit from the Tree of Life, and eat it – enhanced and sustained to live forever.
He is calling you by name. Everything is ready. New heaven. New earth. New Jerusalem. Salvation is won. Your ascended Savior stands there, smiling at you, loving you, forgiving you.
Musician, folk singer, song writer and Christian, Bob Dylan, wrote: “The tree of life is growing where the spirit never dies, and the bright light of salvation shines in dark and empty skies.”
The Tree of Life is growing where your spirit will never die. And, for now, the bright light of salvation shines in dark and empty skies. Even if you feel you are the most evil, rotten, messed up person in the world. You are not beyond, nor too far gone, to be washed pure in the mercy of God through Jesus.
Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus. Amen. •
— By Pastor Neil Stern
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Leduc AB