June 28, 2003(31)
THE TREE OF LIFE. The multi-apportioned, multi-positioned Christ and His Bride. From the roots to the leaves every part of the tree is necessary and provides support, one part to the other. Each component having its purpose and filling its designated work to maintain the tree. There is not a segment of the tree which is not vital to the whole. It is portrayed in another manner when Paul spoke of the church being the body of Christ. She, being the fullness, the completion of Christ. Eph. 1:23 Without the church, the bride the Christ of God is incomplete. In the beginning the Lord made them male and female. The man cannot complete his mission in life without the woman and visa-versa. The tree of life is perfect and complete, all of its essential parts beautifully and wonderfully blended into the tree of all trees. Like the Bride of Christ, the most outstanding, the loveliest, the most gorgeous bride of the ages.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE TREE TO OUR SUBJECT. The hintings of the Lord are frequently hidden and subtle. We desperately need the help and wisdom of the Holy Spirit to find them and appropriate them for our enlightenment and understanding. It is the glory of God to conceal a thing but the honor of kings is to search out a matter. Prov. 25:2 We have before us a tree bearing twelve manner of fruit and producing a crop every month, twelve months a year. In other words twelve times twelve or one hundred forty-four. Anywhere and anytime a number such as this is found in the scripture it should pique our interest. That the fruit producing element is seen in such a manner in this tree is worthy of our attention. The roots of the tree do not bear fruit but store and supply nourishment as well as stabilizing the tree. The leaves likewise, are not the fruit producing segment of the tree, but manufacture food and supply strength and growth to the fruit. Each and every section of the tree is of its own make up and character, yet the whole must be blended in secure unity in order to be fruitful. The purpose of the whole, is to produce fruit. Jesus cursed the fig tree for not bearing fruit, and it withered and died. Mt. 21:19 A fruit tree without fruit is not accomplishing its purpose in life. The reason for the tree of life is to produce fruit. This world with all of its happenings and circumstances is but an excessively infinitesimal fraction of the display of life, a dot, a fleeting shadow, and all too quickly passing of a moment called time. The tree of life is eternal, everlasting, ever producing fruit. This tree will not wither, it will not die. It is the TREE OF LIFE and with the Lord life is forever, world without end. There is no concluding moment associated with things that the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. Far beyond the scope of the imagination and thoughts of man, the Lord has determined amazing and astonishing things for those who love Him. Only as we search out the secrets of the Lord and He blesses us with the revelation of His Spirit may we even begin to comprehend what the future of the redeemed will be. Be assured, that whatever the Lord prepares it will be out of this world. 1 Cor. 2:9-10.