In Pennsylvania, trees are season meters now dressed in equinox finery, until the parchment leaves fall noble to the ground, only to stand naked in winter. The choreography of the universe provided by the Creator reminds us of His promise to keep the earth constant from season to season.
The Promise-Keeper.
From the view of our morning room window I can see the course of history . . . in a tree.
The tree outside our window bends at the weight of a sparrow, yet one of it’s forefathers held the weight of our sin on Calvary’s tree.
The ancient symbol of the fall and redemption.
The Bible starts and ends with a story of a tree, in the second chapter of the beginning of the Book and in the second chapter of it’s glorious end.
The Tree of Life.
Genesis 2:9, In the middle of the garden, God put the tree that gives life and also the tree that gives the knowledge of good and evil.
Revelation 2:7, To those who win the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit from the tree of life, which is in the garden of God.
Adam fell from grace when wife Eve was seduced by the slippery deceiver and dined at the Paradise tree. It was then Satan defeated the human race. On a tree, Jesus destroyed the works of the ex-angel, and we’re no longer defeated.
Bethlehem reopens Eden’s gate.
From this side of Eden and since the beginning of time, we’ve been trying to get back to the garden. We had life in the garden and lost it. There is no back gate and we can’t pick the lock.
There is only a way in by the blood-tree sacrifice. Jesus won it back for us in another garden . . . Gethsemane . . . the agony before the agony.
Golgotha.
As we reflect on the passion of Easter, we have resurrection hope because of the tree of eternal life, the One who bought Paradise back for us 2000 years ago.
He Himself bore our sins in His body on a tree, that we might die to sin and live to be righteous. By His wounds we are healed. 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
Verna
Liz Cowen Furman says
Very poetic. :0)
vernabowman says
You’re so kind!
Glenda Mills says
Verna,
Thanks for taking us back to the garden through the gate reopened for us by Jesus…through His death and resurrection. Hosanna to the King of Kings!
vernabowman says
Hosanna! Thank you for your faithful visits, dear friend.
vondaskelton says
“There is only a way in by the blood-tree sacrifice. Jesus won it back for us in another garden . . . Gethsemane . . . the agony before the agony.”
Beautifully written, Verna! I’m thankful for the opportunity to read and enjoy it. 🙂
vernabowman says
. . . and I’m thankful for your faithful visits and encouragement . . . thanks, Vonda!
Janeen Ippolito says
This is a beautiful revelation of a Biblical metaphor. It’s so easy to overlook the smaller aspects of creation, such as trees–and yet all of creation truly points to God’s goodness and plans! Thanks for sharing.
vernabowman says
Thank you, Janeen . . . you’re right in how easy it is to overlook the small (amazing) things!