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The Tree of Life in Heaven
Psalm 1; Revelation 22:1-5

Picture
     In 1879 in London, England, Kate Hanley wrote the lyrics for a hymn that’s still a favorite today.  It’s also a great way to introduce today’s message on heaven. Here’s the refrain:  
   I love to tell the story, ‘twill be my theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.   
     Now here are its three verses:
     I love to tell the story of unseen things above: of Jesus and his glory, of Jesus and his love.  I love to tell the story, because I know ‘tis true.  It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.
     I love to tell the story.  ’Tis pleasant to repeat what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.  I love to tell the story, for some have never heard the message of salvation from God’s own holy word.
     I love to tell the story, for those who know it best seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest.  And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, ‘twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.

 
       The old, old story we heard as we began this series came from Genesis, the first book of the Bible.  Adam and Eve were living in paradise’s splendor; they walked and talked with God in the cool of the evening.  All around them creation was thriving.  They lacked nothing.  There was a river of life that flowed through paradise and watered the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  The only rule Adam and Eve had to follow was to not eat from that second tree.       
     The day came when they both gave in to temptation and ate the perfect fruit hanging from that tree’s branches.  God saw them and grieved; they had broken their covenant promise.  From that day onward Adam and Eve were no longer allowed access to Paradise‘s privileges.  They were expelled from the Garden of Eden, a place of endless blessings and close contact with God.  Once the gate was closed, they had to work the land, to labor in life, and their days would end in death. 
      Today we’re turning our attention to a new, new story from Revelation, the last book of the Bible.  We’re told about not one, but several gates in heaven that are wide open, and they are made of luminescent pearls.  Every son and daughter of Adam and Eve can have access to Heaven.  We all know the one and only way we gain entranc: we must ask Jesus Christ to forgive our sins and become our Savior and Lord.  That’s the salvation message that will be “our theme in glory”. 
     But there’s much, much more waiting for us!  We’ll discover that everywhere we look, all of creation will be fully restored.  No more pollution or pesticides will harm the land, air, or water.  No wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes or tsunamis will ever frighten or harm us.  There will never be endangered animals or birds, nor any endangered trees or vegetation. 
      We also know that we’ll be changed - transformed. Our frail human body will be replaced with a new one that will never experience pain or sorrow; we will not suffer, worry, or lose our temper; we won’t be crippled by disease, depression, addiction, or any other hindrance.  Our new bodies will be clothed in a white robe and every need we have will be met.  
      And visible to all, found in front of God’s great throne, will be a very important tree, the Tree of Life.  The fruit-bearing tree once planted in the Garden of Eden will be ours to enjoy.  We’ll be able to walk and talk with God just like Adam and Eve.  What was once lost will be fully restored.  Oh, how I love to tell this story!
      Can you begin to visualize heaven?  The description is found right in the pages of Scripture for all to discover.  One of the most awe-inspiring sights will be “the river of the water of life, which is bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Jesus) – through the middle of the street of the city.”  Imagine a wide river that is pure and fresh - no part of it will ever be stagnant.  Its water will be as bright and sparkling as a cut crystal glass in the sunlight.  And this “river of the water of life” will be without end; it will flow and ripple along forever because God is its source. 
     We also learn that there is no need for the sun or the moon to shine in heaven because the glory of God will continually illumine it, as well as the lamp, which is the Lamb.  Have you ever thought about this “light of God’s glory” that we will experience?  I had an Old Testament professor who opened up my awareness of this, and from then on, I have been awed by it.   She explained that the Hebrew word for the holy light of God is “shekinah”.  She walked us through several examples of this.  Remember when Moses was on the mountain getting the Ten Commandments from God?  When he descended, his face was so luminous people couldn’t look at him, so he had to put a covering veil on his head.  That’s an example of “shekinah”; just being before “the light of God’s glory” caused Moses to radiate a remnant of that light!  In the New Testament do you remember how there was a holy light which brightly shone around Saul?  Those with him that day also saw the indescribable dazzling light of God’s glory.  This “shekinah” emanating  from God will be just one wondrous thing we’ll experience in heaven.  It will not be so bright we that squint; it will simply be a perfect illumination.   
       Let’s now take a look at the Tree of Life.  Many scholars believe that the word for tree used here is plural.  If that is true, we’re not talking about a single tree with its roots buried in the soil on the side of a river.  Instead, imagine a multitude of trees, rows of them on both side of the beautiful river.  There is no hint given about the trees’ height, branches or bark.  What we can know is that they must be well-rooted to continually bear fruit.  It certainly helps that they are also perpetually nourished by the river’s pure water.  Imagine fruit-bearing trees that are never  dormant; their leaves will not wither and die.  There will be a tremendous variety of unblemished, delicious fruit.   And you and I will have access to them; no one will ever go without.   There is so much more revealed about heaven.  I encourage you to read about it for yourselves. 
       One last thing I want to bring before us this morning, the hinge that connects the Tree of Life in Genesis and in Revelation, is the tree that became a cross. There was a sign nailed over Jesus’ head that day, a placard meant to mock him.  It said: "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews".  No Roman ruler or Jewish leader alive believed that the one who bled and died would be king.  But we know the risen Christ is seated above, in shekinah glory.  The lamb of God who died to set us free from our sins will one day welcome us into His kingdom.  
     Can you imagine passing through the wide, open gates made of pearl?  Your resurrected body will be clothed anew and fully alive.  Can you see the throne, the waters of life, the trees bearing fruit?  Can you imagine looking in every direction and seeing the full beauty of Creation? 
       This is the future that awaits us.   Jesus said, as he looked at men and women  who believed in him, “Great will be your reward in heaven.” And in Revelation 2:7 we have this final, beautiful promise: “To those that (love me and) overcome, I will let them eat from the Tree of Life.”   That is a tree I can’t wait to see, to walk towards and pick its fruit.  We shall see one another there, by the trees, the river and the throne of Almighty God and the Lamb.  Amen.

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