The Tree of Life in Eternity (Revelation 22:14)
Glory to God
The Tree of Life in Eternity
"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." — Revelation 22:14
When God created man, He formed him from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7).God made the tree of life to grow in the garden of Eden so that man could grow in life and in abundance and to live forever in eternal life (Genesis 2:9, 3:22), But, because of sin, this divine life was lost to man, he no longer had life in him, nor the ability to grow in life, and therefore God forbid him from the fruit of the tree of life (Genesis 3:24).Jesus came to restore the life that man had once lost (John 10:10), so that he might have life and have it more abundantly. For this purpose, at baptism man is planted together in the likeness of his death, burial and resurrection in order to have newness of life(Romans 6:3–5). To the one who has received new life, God gives necessary experiences in the garden of His Church, so that he may be led into abundance of life (John 10:10) and into eternal life (John 6:27).Thus, Jesus changes man into the one who will never die (John 11:25–26).
If we observe carefully, the man and the tree of life in the Garden of Eden which we see in the book of Genesis, is also seen in the New Jerusalem, the holy city in eternity (Revelation 22:14) Therefore, in God’s creation, those that are eternal are man and the tree of life. Hence, the comparison study between man and the tree of life helps in our spiritual life to reach our eternity by attaining life in abundance and eternal life.
In eternity, we see the tree of life on the either side of the river of the water of life (Revelation 22:1–2) . Similarly, in Ezekiel 47:7,12, we see trees like the tree of life by the banks of the river. In Genesis 2:9–10 also, we read that a river flowed out to water the tree of life. Spiritually, for us also to grow as trees of life, Jesus promises of the Holy Spirit which is the rivers of living water (John 7:37–39). In the beginning of our Christian life after being repented and baptized Jesus, having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, and gives to us (Acts 2:33,38). This Holy Spirit nourishes and strengthens us to grow.
Again, when we observe the tree of life, we see it as a tree that bears fruit (Revelation 22:1–2).We can understand this in three ways.
First: According to John 15:16 Jesus has chosen us and placed us in His garden, the Church, so that we may bear fruit. Therefore, as in Luke 13:6–7, when the fig tree planted in the vineyard bear no fruit, was ordered to be cut down — in the same way, if we are fruitless, we too may be cut off. John 15:2 also shows that branches that are in the vine do not bear fruit are cut off. Thus, we to be the tree of life, must be fruitful. When we observe carefully, it is the fruit which is important not the tree (Genesis 3:22). It is by the fruit of the tree of life that one may live forever. But if we remain fruitless we will not be found in eternity instead we' ll be cast into the lake of fire, which is eternal hell (John15:4–6 : Revelation 20:15) Furthermore, we to be fruitful John the baptist also says in Matthew 3:10 that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. A tree is known by its fruit; if the tree is good, its fruit will also be good. Therefore, those who produce bad fruit too will be cut down and cast into the fire (Matthew 12:33–35). Hence, let us be good people who bring forth good fruit.
Second: It is not enough just to have fruit — we must have fruit that remains (John 15:16). In Mark 11:13, we read about a fig tree that might have been fruitful, but because it was not the season for figs, Jesus found no fruit on it. So He cursed it, and it withered. We too should not be fruitful only at certain times, seasons, or circumstances. We must be people who always bear fruit, fruit that remains. The spiritual experiences which we receive must always helps us to receive fruits and be revealed in our lives.
Third: When we observe the tree of life it bears new fruit every month, producing twelve kinds of fruits (Revelation 22:2, Ezekiel 47:12). Likewise, in our spiritual life, as we grow, we must bring forth new fruits. In Matthew 3:8 John says, “Bear fruits meet for repentance,”through repentance the fruits mentioned in 2 Corinthians 7:10–11 must be seen in us. When we are baptized we must have the experience of being in unity in Christ without any division (Galatians 3:27–28). Being made free from sin and become servants to God we receive the fruit unto holiness (Romans 6:22).Those having received the Holy Spirit and are led by the Spirit will bring forth the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23). When we live by the true Word of God we receive the fruit of righteousness and holiness(Ephesians 4: 24). In this way, different spiritual experiences must continue to bring forth new fruits in us.Thereby, we must keep receiving new experiences without leaving the earlier fruits which we received through past experiences. Then, as in Song of Songs 7:13, we will be changed as those who lay up all pleasant fruits, both new and old, for our beloved Jesus. Through Jesus, in whom dwells the fullness of Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9), we will reach the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ unto a perfect man (Ephesians 4:12–13).Our God, the husbandman who waits patiently for the precious fruit of the earth (James 5:7) will make us valuable having excellent fruits and gather us as His own (Malachi 3:17).
If we study deeper, we see that the reason the tree of life flourish to grow and bears fruit is because it is planted by the waters. God has planted us in His vineyard of many waters (Ezekiel 19:10) so that we may be fruitful and flourishing (Ezekiel 17:5,8). He has planted us in good soil by great waters so that we may bear fruit (Ezekiel 31:5,7).Thus, we must grow in length and fair in greatness (Ezekiel 17:5-10)and yield a hundredfold fruit in our lives (Luke 8:8). Therefore, like Israelites we must not forsake the Lord, the fountain of living waters (Jeremiah17:13). Because, it is God who gave the increase (1Corinthians 3:6). But if we, who are the vine forsake the Lord, we will wither and perish. Therefore, in order to avoid this, we must take care of certain things:
Firstly, as in Jeremiah 17:7–8, we must be like a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out its roots by the river — trusting in the Lord and making the Lord our hope. Since It is better to put our trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man and in princes we should not trust our God (Psalm 118:8–9). As well, since they cannot help us, we should not trust God, instead always trust Him (Psalm 146:3). Cursed is the one who trusts in man and whose heart departeth from the Lord (Jeremiah 17:5–6). Therefore irrespective of what others may trust in, we must remember the name of the Lord (Psalm 20:7), who is our help and our shield and trust Him alone (Psalm 115:9–11). Only such people cannot be moved and grow upright (Psalm 125:1). Therefore we to be fruitful, it is not enough to trust in the Lord —instead we must be those as it is mentioned in Jeremiah 17:7 we must have the hope only upon our Lord. As we trust only in our Lord wholeheartedly then they will be like flourishing trees trusting in Him forever (Psalm 52:8). Such people will not fear when heat comes, their leaves will always be green, they will not wither in drought, and they will keep bearing fruit (Jeremiah 17:8) Therefore, let us put our trust wholly in the Lord our God.
Secondly, In our life we should not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, being wearied nor stand in the way of sinners, being fainted nor sit in the seat of the scornful (Psalm 1:1–3).Such people, being born of God, keep themselves (1John 5:18) having no joy in the worldly pleasures, instead they delight in the law of the Lord, by meditating on it day and night (Psalm 1:1–3).Such are those who give priority to God’s Word, in reading and in meditating daily will become like trees planted by the river whose leaf shall be green neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Such choice and best trees that drink water (Ezekiel31:16) will enter the holy city, the New Jerusalem, and receive comfort (Isaiah 66:13).
Thirdly, in Genesis 3:22–24, man had lost the portion over the fruit of the tree of life in Eden on that day. But in Revelation 22:14, we see that in eternity man will again have the right to the tree of life. To attain this, we must take heed in this earthly life. As we seen earlier in Revelation 22:14, we must be those that do His commandments. To enter the Kingdom of God without falling, we must be those who hear the words of Jesus and do them (Matthew 7:21–27) Therefore, by trusting wholly in God, by meditating on His Word day and night, and by living according to His Word, we will be able to enter the city through the gates and have the right to the tree of life. All they that be fat upon earth shall have the right to the tree of life and eat its fruit and worship God in eternity ( Psalm 22:29), live forever (Genesis 3:22),and serve God (Revelation 22:3), May the Lord God help and bless us all.
