Between the Trees

I recently watched a video of Rob Bell entitled "Trees." Rob Bell is the pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan, and has a unique way of presenting his sermons. He always uses a strong analogy to draw attention to his message. In this video he speaks of the tree in the Garden of Eden that is called "the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." We remember that God instructed the earliest man and woman not to eat of the tree. We know, however, that God's command was ignored, and sin entered into the world at that point. Bell also speaks of the tree of life described in Revelation 22, the final chapter of the Bible. It is described in the Word as one "which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." It is at the end of time when the original curse of God will be removed. Bell's point of the video is to remind us as Christians that we have a lot of living to do in between the two trees.

To give us help throughout the Bible, God also uses trees as analogies for the way we need to live. One of the most interesting uses of the analogy has always been the plant which grew overnight over Jonah's head (chapter 4, verse 6-10) yet withered by the next morning. It is a symbol of the transience of life and the brevity of time to do God's will. Another key example of trees, which illustrates how we are to live our lives, is found in John 15. In this chapter, Christ compares Himself to being a vine while his followers are the branches that are to bear fruit. As in the book of Jonah, He reminds us that, if we do not produce fruit, we too will wither and be cast into the fire and burned.

As I think about these analogies, I know that God is giving us a recipe of Truth for our lives. Yes, the afterlife is important, but perhaps the more important aspect of our purpose here on earth is to do what we can to improve the lives of others. Jonah was insistent that the people of Ninevah be killed, not given a chance for forgiveness and repentance. Christ says we are to be aware of those around us who live lives of "quiet desperation." Today we have many who struggle with day-to-day decisions on how to live through this great recession that we find ourselves in. As His followers, we simply must invest, through our volunteer efforts, in the lives of others. Living well between the trees is essential.