A Tree-Centered Life
A whole tree. A broken tree. A processed tree.
A garden tree. A redemption tree. A final tree.
Whether we have realized it or not, as believers, our entire faith begins and ends with trees. Trees serve as pivotal landscapes in the Word we read and the tool Jesus wields to fulfill every promise He, the Father, and the Spirit have given us. Two of the three trees may be quite obvious to you, but the third may present a different picture. Let me explain.
The WHOLE tree. A garden tree. The Tree of Life. This tree was found in the center of the Garden of Eden with the other (not so fondly remembered) Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. These trees, as described in the Bible, looked very much like the trees we see everyday, structurally sound, growing fruit, and doing what trees do. However, I truly believe these trees held every kind of supernatural flourishing thing God could infuse them with. If eating something from one of them (the one that shall not be named) could literally change a human being's perspective and brain visualization of their surroundings on a physical and spiritual level at the exact same time, they weren’t just the trees we see in our backyard.
What is interesting, in looking at what God told Adam, is that the only tree he could not eat from was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, not the Tree of Life.
“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.” (Gen. 1:9)
“You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden-except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Gen 1:16)
So if I understand the Scripture correctly, this tree provided every good and holy thing they would ever need. Who knows? This tree's fruit might have provided healing for scratches or settled an upset stomach when needed.
Obviously, the Bible doesn’t go into that detail. But if God provided something that produced fruit representing LIFE, AND they were allowed to eat from it, then with what I know of God’s intentionality on a personal level, He definitely didn’t miss any details in what this tree provided.
This observation reveals that when we are faced with choices, humans often desire what seems to be forbidden or unattainable, especially when presented alongside a perfect and ideal option. Whether the reason for the restriction is that it is harmful, inappropriate, or even dangerous, we experience a strong fear of missing out (FOMO) on what is being withheld from us. Yes, it even existed in the garden. Wait, you thought that was original to this era? Nope. God saw it first….right in creation.
The Broken Tree. A redemption tree. The Cross. This tree is the one that redeemed our lives while also bridging the gap of the divide that separated us from the first tree. Many messages have been preached about the symbolism and connection between what occurred in the garden, our separation from God, and the process required for reconciliation. This reconciliation demands a perfect sacrifice—a living, holy being, the Son of God, nailed to a tree that had been cut down, incapable of growing further, serving only one purpose.
This tree no longer had roots. It was dead but had the honor of letting the Holy purified blood of Jesus Christ run down its structure into the ground where its roots should have been to bring life back to a dead Bride. When I find myself kneeling at this tree, make no mistake, it isn’t the tree in the shape of the cross that saves me, it is the blood that reaches my knees and seeps into my heart that causes me to lift my eyes and see what took place in front of me. The hope that creeps in after the grief of knowing I’m not worth it, but HE says I am, that lets me hold what that tree, the cross, represents to move me forward. To not stay on my knees and find my identity looking at the ground where I’ve been changed, but to look up, rise up and get about what He has next. If He didn’t stay on the cross, neither should we.
The Processed Tree. The final tree. The Book of Life. Hopefully you know this, but books made of paper come from trees. I know way too much about this process due to my family previously owning a document management company. Part of our process was picking up paper documents from businesses or residents, shredding it, baling it in this gigantic compounding machine, and then having it picked up by tractor trailers to be taken to the paper mill. About once or twice a year, we would receive products from the paper mill that we had provided to be recycled. It was really incredible to see the process come full-circle and be able to say we were making a difference.
God is in the business of breaking our minds with things that don’t make sense, raising something that was dead back to life. A virgin giving birth. A fruit that changed the world. He introduces very real physical products and infiltrates them with layers of spiritual weight. In these examples and many more, there is a moment where the physical and spiritual realms collide and fuse a new reality for the heavens and those on Earth. At the end of the book we read every day, made of paper from trees, the final book, the Book of Life, will be read.
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” (Rev 3:5) “And the books were opened, including the Book of Life.(Rev. 20:12)
This Book contains the names of all of those who have chosen to follow Jesus. In the beginning, Jesus was the source of pure life, represented by the original perfect tree. This contrasts with the dead tree that symbolizes new life through the Cross. Ultimately, that same Jesus will hold the BOOK, containing the names of everyone He knows personally.
Now that you know more than you probably care to know about trees, my challenge to all of us is this: Do I tend to only lean toward one of these trees and mindsets? Do I always find myself in FOMO and knowing what is right and true but fearful God’s holding out on me? Do I know what’s right but tend to not lean in and choose what I want over what He provides? Death over life? Do I identify more with grief, death, and the “belly button mentality” (thanks Pastor Aaron) more than the hope Jesus came to give? Am I more comfortable focusing on myself than others? Lastly, am I living in a way that shows I cannot wait for Him to call me by name? Or am I hoping He will call my name at all?
We find ourselves in the company of all of these “trees” whether it’s the first time or re-visiting them in different seasons, but maybe we should carry the priority that Jesus put on them in our hearts so we can live knowing He was and is present no matter where we find ourselves. Ask Him to reveal these places in your life so you can cut down the dead and water the good. After all, He was and is the original Gardener.
A garden tree. A redemption tree. A final tree.
Whether we have realized it or not, as believers, our entire faith begins and ends with trees. Trees serve as pivotal landscapes in the Word we read and the tool Jesus wields to fulfill every promise He, the Father, and the Spirit have given us. Two of the three trees may be quite obvious to you, but the third may present a different picture. Let me explain.
The WHOLE tree. A garden tree. The Tree of Life. This tree was found in the center of the Garden of Eden with the other (not so fondly remembered) Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. These trees, as described in the Bible, looked very much like the trees we see everyday, structurally sound, growing fruit, and doing what trees do. However, I truly believe these trees held every kind of supernatural flourishing thing God could infuse them with. If eating something from one of them (the one that shall not be named) could literally change a human being's perspective and brain visualization of their surroundings on a physical and spiritual level at the exact same time, they weren’t just the trees we see in our backyard.
What is interesting, in looking at what God told Adam, is that the only tree he could not eat from was the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, not the Tree of Life.
“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.” (Gen. 1:9)
“You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden-except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” (Gen 1:16)
So if I understand the Scripture correctly, this tree provided every good and holy thing they would ever need. Who knows? This tree's fruit might have provided healing for scratches or settled an upset stomach when needed.
Obviously, the Bible doesn’t go into that detail. But if God provided something that produced fruit representing LIFE, AND they were allowed to eat from it, then with what I know of God’s intentionality on a personal level, He definitely didn’t miss any details in what this tree provided.
This observation reveals that when we are faced with choices, humans often desire what seems to be forbidden or unattainable, especially when presented alongside a perfect and ideal option. Whether the reason for the restriction is that it is harmful, inappropriate, or even dangerous, we experience a strong fear of missing out (FOMO) on what is being withheld from us. Yes, it even existed in the garden. Wait, you thought that was original to this era? Nope. God saw it first….right in creation.
The Broken Tree. A redemption tree. The Cross. This tree is the one that redeemed our lives while also bridging the gap of the divide that separated us from the first tree. Many messages have been preached about the symbolism and connection between what occurred in the garden, our separation from God, and the process required for reconciliation. This reconciliation demands a perfect sacrifice—a living, holy being, the Son of God, nailed to a tree that had been cut down, incapable of growing further, serving only one purpose.
This tree no longer had roots. It was dead but had the honor of letting the Holy purified blood of Jesus Christ run down its structure into the ground where its roots should have been to bring life back to a dead Bride. When I find myself kneeling at this tree, make no mistake, it isn’t the tree in the shape of the cross that saves me, it is the blood that reaches my knees and seeps into my heart that causes me to lift my eyes and see what took place in front of me. The hope that creeps in after the grief of knowing I’m not worth it, but HE says I am, that lets me hold what that tree, the cross, represents to move me forward. To not stay on my knees and find my identity looking at the ground where I’ve been changed, but to look up, rise up and get about what He has next. If He didn’t stay on the cross, neither should we.
The Processed Tree. The final tree. The Book of Life. Hopefully you know this, but books made of paper come from trees. I know way too much about this process due to my family previously owning a document management company. Part of our process was picking up paper documents from businesses or residents, shredding it, baling it in this gigantic compounding machine, and then having it picked up by tractor trailers to be taken to the paper mill. About once or twice a year, we would receive products from the paper mill that we had provided to be recycled. It was really incredible to see the process come full-circle and be able to say we were making a difference.
God is in the business of breaking our minds with things that don’t make sense, raising something that was dead back to life. A virgin giving birth. A fruit that changed the world. He introduces very real physical products and infiltrates them with layers of spiritual weight. In these examples and many more, there is a moment where the physical and spiritual realms collide and fuse a new reality for the heavens and those on Earth. At the end of the book we read every day, made of paper from trees, the final book, the Book of Life, will be read.
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine.” (Rev 3:5) “And the books were opened, including the Book of Life.(Rev. 20:12)
This Book contains the names of all of those who have chosen to follow Jesus. In the beginning, Jesus was the source of pure life, represented by the original perfect tree. This contrasts with the dead tree that symbolizes new life through the Cross. Ultimately, that same Jesus will hold the BOOK, containing the names of everyone He knows personally.
Now that you know more than you probably care to know about trees, my challenge to all of us is this: Do I tend to only lean toward one of these trees and mindsets? Do I always find myself in FOMO and knowing what is right and true but fearful God’s holding out on me? Do I know what’s right but tend to not lean in and choose what I want over what He provides? Death over life? Do I identify more with grief, death, and the “belly button mentality” (thanks Pastor Aaron) more than the hope Jesus came to give? Am I more comfortable focusing on myself than others? Lastly, am I living in a way that shows I cannot wait for Him to call me by name? Or am I hoping He will call my name at all?
We find ourselves in the company of all of these “trees” whether it’s the first time or re-visiting them in different seasons, but maybe we should carry the priority that Jesus put on them in our hearts so we can live knowing He was and is present no matter where we find ourselves. Ask Him to reveal these places in your life so you can cut down the dead and water the good. After all, He was and is the original Gardener.
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2 Comments
So good and thought provoking ?
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; 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.”
nRevelation 22:1-2 ESV