The Tree of Life

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (Rev 22:1-4 NIV)

 

In the beginning mankind walked in the garden in the very presence of God. In the beginning mankind had access to the tree of life in this garden. The book of Genesis tells us that rather than eat from this tree of life, these first people ate from the tree which would guarantee their deaths; the tree that God had told them not to eat from. As a consequence they were kicked out of the garden in which it grew so that they would no longer have the opportunity to eat the fruit from the tree of life. (Gen 3:22-24)

Those first people made an devastating decision when they chose to listen to the serpent rather than God. The world has not changed much. We long for eternal life; yet, our sinful natures continue to steer us toward the very things that will bring us death. We often listen to the world rather than God.

In this last chapter and book of the Holy Scriptures we once again see the tree of life. All who believe in Jesus Christ; all whose names are written in the book of life, are granted access to this fruit which will heal the nations. We have access to the tree of life who is Jesus the Christ for he, himself, has told us that he is the way and the truth and the life.

 

Eat from the tree of life and live!

 

God's Peace be with you all. Pr. J