Destiny tied to two trees
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Destiny tied to two trees
By Braxton King
I love spending time in the forests of our region, looking at the many different types of trees growing here in Southeastern Kentucky. In the Bible, it’s interesting to note that man’s destiny is tied to two trees: one in the Garden of Eden, and the other, the tree of Calvary.
The tree in the Garden is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In the Garden of Eden, God made provisions for everything that Adam and Eve needed. He had given them many fruit producing trees that they could freely eat from. Everything they needed was right there in the garden and there was only one tree that God instructed them not to eat from, and that if they did, they would surely die. Eve was tempted, so she partook of the tree, and also gave to Adam. In that moment, mankind, along with Adam and Eve, died spiritually. As a result, death passed to all mankind. Man is now dead in trespasses and sins.
The Bible is clear that Jesus is the Lamb, slain before the foundation of the world. Before man had even fallen, God had a remedy planned. This plan of redemption also involved a tree. The God who created the tree would one day die on that tree to redeem mankind. It tells us in the book of Deuteronomy, “Cursed is he who hangs on a tree.” The book of Galatians elaborates on this and says, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, ‘Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:’”
My life either goes back to the tree in the Garden or the tree at Calvary. If it goes back to the tree in the Garden, I am lost. But thank God, John said, “The axe is laid to the root of the tree.”
My lineage runs back to the cross of Calvary. The tree in the garden of Eden was beautiful to look at, but it brought death. The tree of Calvary was hideous to look at, but it brought life. Man came, spiritually alive, to the tree in the Garden and left, spiritually dead. Man comes spiritually dead to the tree of Calvary but leaves spiritually alive.
Thank God for the tree of Calvary, where we receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Reprinted courtesy of McCreary Journal.