Prov. 3:13,18 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.
The Tree of Life is another one of those beautiful mysteries weaved into the fabric of God’s word. It is first mentioned in the garden in the book of Genesis and it is refered to in various places of the scripture all the way to the closing chapter of the Book of Revelation. Our first parents were never able to eat from this tree because of their disobedience and imminent fall into sin. Their fallen state kept them from this tree and the promise of a higher quality of life that had been placed before them. The promise of a spiritual state of happiness escaped them and their seed, the promise still remained of restoration in the coming of a future Savior. Christ Himself is actually the tree of life. It is in Him that the promise of of joy unspeakable is finally realized. Here are some comments about that tree from Adam Clarke.
“She is a tree of life, alluding most manifestly to the tree so called which God in the beginning planted in the garden of Paradise, by eating the fruit of which all the wastes of nature might have been continually repaired, so as to prevent death for ever. This is an opinion which appears probable enough. The blessings which wisdom-true religion-gives to men, preserve them in life, comfort them through life, cause them to triumph in death, and ensure them a glorious immortality.”
Clarke speaks of Christ as the wisdom, or word, of God. It is in eating the fruit from that tree that we enjoy the heavenly benefits now. Matthew Henry also spoke of the blessing found in this Tree of Life.
“It is the happiness of paradise: She is a tree of life. True grace is that to the soul which the tree of life would have been, from which our first parents were shut out for eating of the forbidden tree. It is a seed of immortality, a well of living waters, springing up to life eternal. It is an earnest of the New Jerusalem, in the midst of which is the tree of life. Those that feed and feast on this heavenly wisdom shall not only be cured by it of every fatal malady, but shall find an antidote against age and death; they shall eat and live for ever.”
Wow! We don’t have to die to eat from the Tree of Life, we can begin now. We are feasting on Christ as we read the word, celebrate communion, or spend time in His presence in worship. We don’t have to die to taste heaven, the enjoyment of life begins now. Christianity is a celebration, it is the return to the lost garden, it is eating from that tree of mystery. Let the party start in you today.
