The Tree of Life and the River of God

I grew up near the mighty Mississippi. It begins in my birth-state, Minnesota, and runs the length of the United States. It is a very important part of the geography and life of this country, as indeed are the many rivers in various parts of the entire world. John begins his final chapter with a description of the river of the water of life and the tree of life.

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. - Rev 22:1-2 ESV

Let's examine them.

David writes about this river in his powerful song:

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. - Psa 46:4 ESV

The image is that of Jerusalem, the fortress city, surrounded by enemies who intend to force the inhabitants to give up because they no longer have water. But "there is a river whose streams make glad the city of God." We think at once of various famous Biblical rivers like the Nile and the Euphrates. The countries through which these rivers flow are very dependent upon them. Likewise, the city of Jerusalem could not exist very long without a steady supply of water. David reminds us that the city of God has such a river. That river is God Himself! He is in the midst of her. John now picks up this familiar image to describe the eternal city of God. Through her flows the pure as crystal river of life, the life that was lost when Adam and Eve were driven from their garden home:

Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever--" therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. - Gen 3:22-24 ESV

Now the tree of life is given back to all inhabitants of this wondrous city of God. Like the river, the tree grows in the midst of the city. It grows as a forest on either side of the river. It bears twelve different kinds of fruit, a new kind of fruit each month, and its leaves bring healing to the nations.

Tree of Life - wallpaper

As we know so well, there are 12 tribes of the people of God in the O.T. and Jesus chose 12 apostles to be His special messengers. Now the symbol 12 is used again to describe the life-giving properties of this wondrous tree of life, ever-bearing, month after month, always with new and plentiful fruit for everyone and medicinal properties in its leaves. What a beautiful image. Now eternal life is restored by the endless grace and mercy of God.

John continues:

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. - Rev 22:3-5 ESV

To see God is the precious promise of our Lord Jesus in His sermon:

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. - Mat 5:8 ESV

Only those purified and cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God will be permitted to see Him face to face. They will see Him looking upon them with eternal love and mercy. In his epistle John writes about this:

Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. - 1Jo 3:2-3 ESV

So we wait patiently for the promise to be fulfilled, for our hope is in the Son of God who has given Himself for us that we may be cleansed from all sin, drink from the pure river of God, eat from the great tree of life and gaze upon the face of God forever. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

The Blessing Of Faith In The Risen Christ

In the past week I commented on the physical resurrection from the dead promised by and through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is such an astounding promise that many have a most difficult time accepting. Just as they struggle with the idea of a virgin birth, so they seriously doubt the return of our bodies from the dead. Would the Lord God give this promise to such a sinner as I? Does He truly care enough to rescue me? Why then does He permit this grief and pain into my life? Why does God seem so incapable of answering my prayers?

So go the doubts and struggles. Thomas, one of Jesus' Twelve Apostles, also had such doubts. His name in Aramaic (Tau'ma - תאומא) means twin. In Greek it is Didymus. If Thomas was indeed a twin we know nothing about his twin. Some have suggested that his wavering back and forth in his initial inability to accept the witness of the other Apostles earned him this name. In doubting, however, he was not completely different from the other disciples of Jesus.

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe." - John 20:24-25 ESV

When Jesus appeared among them eight days later, even though they were behind locked doors, he offered them Peace (Shalom in Aramaic or Hebrew) —a word that fulfills all the promises of eternal forgiveness and oneness with him and with his Father. Then he turned at once to Thomas,

The Incredulity of St. Thomas by Caravaggio

"Put your finger here," he said, "and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
- John 20:27-28 ESV

Thomas' doubts were gone. His senses of touch and sight confirmed what the others had said. Jesus was indeed alive, returned from the grave. He was indeed Thomas' Lord and God. Like the other Apostles, Thomas went out into the world to proclaim the Gospel of the Risen Christ. Legend has it that he was martyred in India in the year 72.

But note then Jesus' other words to Thomas and to all who struggle to cling to faith.

"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." - Jhn 20:29 ESV

As I've pointed out numerous times before, faith in Jesus as Savior and Risen Messiah is a gift of God, a blessing granted by the Holy Spirit. Paul emphasizes again and again that no one—including Thomas—can say "Jesus is my Lord" except in the holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3). Before Jesus' resurrection Peter had acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah and the Son of the living God. To that Jesus said,

"Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. - Mat 16:17 ESV

Blessings are always gifts from the LORD, gifts poured out by the Holy Spirit at work in and through God's Word. Paul also emphasized this as he said,

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Rom 10:17 ESV

When you doubt, cry out. When you are afraid, reach out for help. Jesus will always meet you at your deepest point of need. He will grant you the most precious gift of His Spirit. He will come to you to speak to your heart. He will take up residence in your soul and give you life. He will grant you faith in His love and hope in His promises. He will give you living water to drink (John 4:10; 7:37).

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" - Luk 11:9-13 ESV

As the Psalmists said so long ago,

Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! - Psalm 40:4 ESV

Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! - Psalm 65:4 ESV

Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise! Selah Blessed are those whose strength is in you, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. - Psalm 84:4-5 ESV

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, - Psalm 146:5 ESV