The Tree of Life

Fun Tree Facts

I never knew trees were so interesting until I started investigating them.

Did you know….

• There are over 23,000 different kinds of trees in the world.
• One large tree can lift up to 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air in a day.
• One large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people
• Trees are the largest living organism on earth (some redwoods are over 360 feet tall!).
• About 25-30 million real Christmas tree are sold in the U.S. every year.

(Sources: https://projects.ncsu.edu/project/treesofstrength/treefact.htm & www.realchristmastrees.org/dnn/Education/Quick-Tree-Facts)

Bible Tree Facts

I never knew the Bible had so much to say about trees until I started studying this topic.

Did you know….

• People are described as trees.

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Psalm 92:12

• People can bear good fruit or bad fruit

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. Matthew 7:18-20

• God wants us to bear good fruit – the fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

• Wisdom is like a tree of life

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her. Proverbs 3:18

• Fruit of righteous is a tree of life

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. Proverbs 11:30

• Jesus wants to protect the trees (the people of God)

They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Revelation 8:4

• Judgment is described as trees being cut down.

And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Matthew 3:10

• The trees will rejoice after the judgment and fall of the king of Babylon, because they will not be cut down anymore.

Indeed the cypress trees rejoice over you, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were cut down, no woodsman has come up against us. Isaiah 14:8

Two Trees: Life or Death

There was a tree of life in the garden of Eden. God had provided all Adam and Even needed to be wise and happy. Proverbs tells us wisdom is a tree of life. But the serpent tempted them to eat of that other tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Boy was that the biggest mistake of all time.

Ever since then we have been cursed by this separation from God, the source of eternal life and goodness. We have been bombarded with the fruit of that terrible tree – which are all the lies of the enemy and the evil deeds that follow. Satan tries to cut us down by telling us we are not good enough, not worthy to be saved, and worthless. He also tells us an even sneakier lie. He says you can be good on your own, from the light inside you. You can be wise all on your own. You don’t need to be connected to Jesus. Both of these are lies. Thankfully God always tells the truth.

God says, that’s right, you are not worthy. But I am, and I want you to live with me forever. If you let me live in you, I will give you life, but if you don’t, you will die.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23

Jesus says we must be connected to Him to live and bear good fruit.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: John 11:25

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. John 15:4

A Strong Tree 

God wants wants you to grow into a strong tree, nourished by the light of His word and the water of life that flows from his throne. He promises that if you follow his ways and trust Him, you will be planted by rivers of water, bear fruit every season, and prosper. Plus, no one will come to cut you down anymore. You are loved by God. So loved He sent his own son to die for you so you can live forever in a place of peace and joy.

Jesus is the water of life and the light of the world. He is what you need to grow into a strong tree that will not fall.

The Tree of Life

In the new earth there is a water of life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It waters the tree of life which bears fruit every month. The leaves are for the healing of the nations. 

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bear twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1-2

Jesus wants you to be like Him, a tree of eternal life, who delights in God’s ways, and bears the fruit of the Spirit. He does not want you to be cut down by Satan and his lies. Read the beautiful promise below and remember – you can be like a tree of life, through Jesus.