Wednesday, October 26, 2022
“The Tree of Life
was planted on each side of the River, producing twelve kinds of fruit, a ripe
fruit each month. The leaves of the Tree are for healing the nations. Never
again will anything be cursed. The Throne of God and of the Lamb is at the
center.” (Revelation 22:2, The Message Bible)
It must have been a very, very
old tree. Its trunk was a good ten feet in circumference and it reached thirty
to forty feet into the sky. It was sheathed in irregular scales of dark gray bark,
with several patches missing along the trunk here and there. There were large
nodules and knobs protruding from several places on the trunk and thicker
branches. Its canopy of branches and leaves stretched over half the small yard.
It looked as if it had braced many a storm off the lake and yet had remained
steadfast and unwavering in any and all kinds of weather. It was a tree to be
reckoned with.
Trees play an interesting role
in our scriptures. The great Biblical Narrative begins with Trees and ends with
a Tree. Trees were a goodly part of God’s Creation and meant for humanity’s
benefit: “Then God said, ‘I’ve given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on
Earth and every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food.’”
(Genesis 1: 29, The Message) In this bounteous Garden, “the Lord God made
all sorts of trees grow up from the ground—trees that were beautiful and that
produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden, he placed the tree of
life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” (Genesis 2:9)
Of course, the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil led to our downfall as humankind. But that issue aside,
trees were a good example of abundant living. “Wisdom is a tree of life to
those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly.” (Proverbs
3:18, New Living Translation) Living under fruit bearing trees was a metaphor
of a good and righteous life. “Instead,
you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree
replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, never dropping a leaf,
always in blossom.” (Psalm 1: 1 -3, The Message)
Jesus also used the metaphor.
“Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people
by their actions.” (Matthew 7:20, NLT)
Paul likewise used this metaphor. He
wrote how all those who belong to Jesus Christ, even Gentiles, have been
grafted onto the promise of God’s blessing of Israel. “So now you also
receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the
rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.” (Romans 11:
17, NLT) Or as the Message Bible renders the last sentence: “Remember, you
aren’t feeding the root; the root is feeding you.”
By the time we get to Revelation
we are given a promise that sits in line with what we have briefly and incompletely
encountered so far, “To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from
the tree of life in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7, NLT) Eden
restored; humankind finding our place within its bounty once again. There is
that beautiful image then of the Tree of Life, not something lost or forbidden
or abandoned, but flourishing, offering nurture for healing, peace, sustenance,
and everlasting Life.
Until then, we attach ourselves
to the Vine. “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot
produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless
you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in
me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do
nothing.” (John 15: 4 – 5, NLT)
Creaton speaks to us; are we listening?
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