The Tree of Life
9th October 2005, Contemporary Worship
On the trunk of the Tree of Life is carved a large heart with an arrow going through it. Within the heart is written, ‘God and Humanity: True Love’.
It started off rather make-believe. Out of nowhere, God created a lush garden, with plants to eat, a stream for drinking, tree leaves for shade, animals to play with, and two humans to enjoy one another. The days were for sun bathing and running; the nights for moonlit strolls and love-making. God would walk in the garden and delight himself in the evening breeze. He didn’t want it to end, especially since his carving on the Tree of Life was meant to last for ever.
Lured into thinking they were on top of the world – even God-like – this human couple took a fall and became ‘infected with falsehood’. Life became a mere shadow to that which they had grown accustomed; eternity now felt as an inner longing, never again to be satisfied. The flowing water dried up. The heat of the day scorched their bodies since thorns and thistles could hardly serve as satisfactory sun block. The infection had developed into downright disease. They were cursed and broken, and that broke God’s heart.
Let’s begin again, now with a larger family. God overflowed the earth from a stream to a flood. A relative of the distant Adam family, Noah, could be trusted for long term relationship with the Lord God. He and his family began to repopulate the earth. The whole earth now had one language. With unity in numbers they built a city with a tower that reached to the top of the world. They intended to make a name for themselves with God-like aspirations. Their tower tumbled down, and the Babel of their now-confused language formed into races, nations, and worse diseases.
Let’s begin yet again, and this time chose a people to mould and form a nation. Perhaps this nation can be healed from the dreadful curse which now affected the whole world. Perhaps they can be a light to all the nations of the earth. The Lord demonstrated tender caring love with them: they never went hungry, their throats tasted fresh water, a cloud protected them from the scorching sun, and in his light, the Lord wanted to make them the light of the world. But the same worldly infection spoilt their relationship and showed itself in disobedience. They continued the fall and the nation broke in two, never to be united again, spiritually or physically.
Understandably, God became exasperated, but he did not give up. He loved the world so much! In fact, so much so, that he, its Creator, returned to the earth to search for and redeem his lost loved ones. One by one he renewed them with hope. He gave them strength for their life journeys, satisfied their parched thirst with springs of water (which he promised would gush up to eternal life), and even broke his own body so his followers could feed on his very life. The light shone in the darkness and the falsehood of their life threatening disease was exposed: there could only be one God in this relationship. In the weakness of God as a dead human being and the shed blood of the Lamb of God the disease could finally be brought under control and healed. The tree of Calvary became the cross of healing – a Tree of Life. One early morning in another lush garden a new creation was resurrected. The sins of the old Adam family had been forgiven in the new Adam. Many people and nations would see in Christ’s light their illness, respond to him, and become healed. This new creation was just beginning.
God-in-Christ will not give up offering himself to the world. He has promised restoration and he put his life where his Word was. Since that day, all creation waits and groans with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God. We have a vision of what is to come and, in fact, has already begun. You and I have seen the light, responded, and are being renewed by God’s healing. In this transformation,
We will not fear though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
though the waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city;
it shall not be moved;
Our nations are in an uproar; kingdoms totter;
Come, behold the wonders of the Lord;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He will make the wars cease to the end of the earth;
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.”
The Psalmist had the vision (Ps 46), Jesus gave St John a revelation (Rev 22.1-6), and we are living in its working out and are called to share our healing with the world, even the very nations and people who continue to reject the transformation known through Christ. Healing is critical to the fullness of human beings created in the image of God. Plant leaves have physically healing properties, the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood gives strength for our journey, and the new water of baptism mark our forehead as Christ’s own forever.
See, a city will come down from heaven, and on both banks of the river stands trees of life, and moreover, the leaves of the trees are intended for the healing of the nations. The curse of destruction will cease to exist and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there in it with his servants worshipping him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. We are a part of the healing of the nations through our relationship with the Tree of Life.
On the trunk of the Tree of Life is carved a large heart with an arrow going through it. Within the heart is written, ‘God and [your name]: True Love’. Underneath is added a P.S.: ‘Write it on your heart!’