As many of you know, I
love things “outdoorsy” and one of those things is “trees.” I’ve traveled
a lot of the world and seen a lot of trees and some of them are remarkably
beautiful. I’m hard-pressed to say which one is my favorite but, I have
to admit that I’m partial to the Aspens, the Blue Spruces and the Red
Buds. The Giant Sequoias are truly majestic and the gnarly, twisted
Bristlecone Pine is one of the oldest living things on earth.
All of what I’ve said so
far is to lead us into a spiritual lesson using the Biblical metaphor “trees”
as an illustration to that lesson. Since we’re at the beginning of our
lesson, why don’t we just begin with the “trees.” For that, let’s turn to
the first chapter of Genesis and there we find that on the third day of
creation God created the “trees” and that He designed them thusly: “every tree, in the which is the fruit
of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for meat.” (Gen.
1:11-13)
The “fruit” of a tree will be a
major part of our thoughts here today. Back in Gen. 1, we also read that
man was granted the “use” of all the plants created by God, including the
“trees.” They were designed to be benefits to man, God’s ultimate creation.
But, He also “breathed”
into man an intellect which should make us understand that we are to “use” them
but not “abuse” them. I believe that, because man was given “dominion” over the plants
and animals of the earth, he has a duty to not waste God’s creatures.
Staying in Genesis, look
in chapter 2, verse 9 and take note of these words: God says:“every tree that is pleasant to the sight
and good for food.” Think about this a moment - that every
tree created by God is useful, has a purpose. Fruit trees are easy to see
but all the rest provide us with all sorts of benefits, from building materials
to everyday household products and, of course, fossil fuels that provide
transportation.
You may never have
thought of this but, if it weren’t for the “trees” that God blessed us with, we
wouldn’t be alive. Without “trees” there would be no other living
creatures. Why is this you may ask? Simply because of another part
of creation we call “photosynthesis.” That is the process whereby all the
carbon dioxide that we humans, animals and machines produce is absorbed by the
green plants and trees and changed into oxygen, that most precious thing we
must have to live. Here’s a little factoid for you: a 10% concentration
of carbon dioxide in the air would kill every living creature on earth.
Amazing, isn’t it?
But there’s even some
more amazing things to consider about the process of photosynthesis and
that is they absorb the carbon dioxide at a rate of 15-30 times greater than
the output of oxygen. Why do you think that might be the process?
Well, because photosynthesis only takes place during the daylight when the sun
is shining. But, we breathe day and night, don’t we? Those
wonderful plants and “trees” are releasing oxygen continually. (And a lot
of supposedly intelligent people believe this all just occurred by some
unexplained accident.)
For the rest of my time
and space here today, let’s return to some scriptures and see if we can draw a
lesson from our “trees.” Go back to the top of this editorial and notice
an allegory used by Jeremiah. Remember he’s talking about a “blessed man who trusts in the Lord”
and says that he is “as a tree
planted by the waters.” I love that allegory, “planted by the waters.”
It’s drawing us a
picture of our “root system.” The tree’s roots “spread out” toward the
source of life - water. In John 4:10 we find out that our “roots” have been blessed
with “living waters”
which are only available through one source: Jesus Christ (John 4:14).
Therefore, if we are a “blessed
tree” (righteous) we’ll be a “fruit”
producing tree. In the same way as we read in Genesis 1. We’ll
reproduce seed/fruit like ourselves. However, as Christ points out in
Matt. 7:17 that this same principle holds true with “unrighteous trees.” I don’t know about you,
but I believe that the world already has enough “trees” producing evil “fruit.”
Before we leave the
sub-topic of “roots”
let’s connect them with what Paul wrote in Eph. 3:17-19: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend
with all saints, what is the breadth, and length and depth and height, and to
know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with
all the fulness of God.”
I once happened to see
an interview of a famous actress and during it, she was asked, “If you were a
tree, what kind of tree would you be?” I don’t recall what her answer
was, but the question intrigued me and I’ll use it to close our lesson with
today. I think that if I were asked that question I’d reply: a Christian
tree. One that’s planted “by
the waters (of life).” Near to the source of that “water.”
In my answer of the
question, I’m reminded of some words of the Psalmist in Psa. 92:12-13: “The righteous shall flourish like the
palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted
in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.”
And also read with me a passage from Prov. 11:30: “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that
winneth souls is wise.”
In keeping with our
subject allegory today, here’s my closing thought. In many passages
throughout the Bible, “trees” are representative of mankind and simply said,
we’re all either a “good tree” or we’re a “bad tree.” Read Matt. 7:19-20
to find out the eternal harvesting results of the “bad” ones.
So, rewording the
interviewer’s question: What kind of tree are you? That question requires
some serious consideration. I’ll close with one of my favorite “tree”
passages in the Bible.
“Blessed is the man who
walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor
sits in the seat
of
scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on this law he
meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by
streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does
not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psa. 1:1-3 ESV)
Respectfully submitted,
Ron Covey
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