Review
A simple question directed to me on Facebook provoked a lot of thought on my part. The question dealt with the tree of life and I didn’t want to give a hurried or simplistic reply. When I searched the Scriptures, I discovered there was more there than I’d realized.
Let’s run through what we’ve covered to this point. We first looked back to the references to the tree of life in the book of Genesis. We concluded it’s a real tree God empowered to confirm one’s spiritual and physical condition. To prevent fallen humanity from living forever separated from Him, the Lord had to bar access to the tree.
Next, we looked ahead to the future. In the new heavens and earth described in Revelation, God’s people will enjoy access once again to the tree of life. The blessings of this tree reinforce our status as children of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
So what about now? What do we do in the meantime? How do we handle our present circumstances and challenges?
Believe it or not, God has given us access to a tree of life for today! We can learn from history and await the future, but we also have resources for the here and now. The Lord has given us the means to partake of a version of the tree of life today. The book of Proverbs presents this truth in four ways.
Wisdom
“She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.” – Proverbs 3:18
The first verse deals with wisdom, personified as an upright and honorable woman. If we’re to have any chance of success in life, we need God’s wisdom! The more confusing life gets, the more difficult our decisions become. The wisdom of God, like a dependable mother, blesses us when we rely on her. She has our best in mind and will help us to recognize good opportunities and avoid trouble. And the more we depend on her, the more she will conform our character to wisdom.
Righteousness
“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.” – Proverbs 11:30
The second verse refers to righteousness. It points out the effects our life in Christ has on others. When we walk in the righteousness of Jesus, the way we treat others changes. We’re no longer driven to try to earn favor with God; the death and resurrection of Jesus is all we need for salvation. We’re free from trying to live up to a standard we can never reach. Now we have the motivation and energy to share this gift with others. We know what it’s like to labor under the burden of sin; we want people to be right with God through Christ. God will confirm our new life and enable us to bless others.
Desire
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” – Proverbs 13:12
The third verse covers the fulfillment of desire. Since the book of Proverbs is all about God-oriented wisdom, we should interpret this verse in that light. The Lord isn’t promising to fulfill our every wish. At its most basic, this proverb describes the effects desire has on people.
But it also implies the possibility of present-day satisfaction. As we surrender to God’s Spirit and His Word, we find our desires gravitating toward what He wants for us. And every decision we make in line with God’s will establishes us in His plans.
Speech
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” – Proverbs 15:4
The last verse promotes the power of speech. Look at the contrast between the uplifting potential of positive words and the destructive capacity of criticism and deception. Which does Jesus want you to express? Which does He want you to listen to? It’s obvious!
What we say can fix people (and ourselves) in present conditions. So if we’re going to acknowledge the bad, we should also promote a path forward.
Application
These four verses in the book of Proverbs lack the definite article. God isn’t describing the tree of life but a tree of life. The latter resembles the former but they’re not identical. The tree in Proverbs is provisional; set for the needs of the moment.
Genesis and Revelation mention the tree of life, which has the ability to make permanent one’s status and condition. Genesis hearkens to the past, back to the days of the Garden of Eden. Revelation points to the future when God restores the world. And Proverbs gives us the wisdom to live in ways that please the Lord. In doing so, we root ourselves in the faith and grow in Jesus Christ.
“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” – Colossians 2:6-7
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