To each of the seven churches, Jesus promised a reward to
the overcomer. In this lesson we will
look at the reward that the overcomer in their church was promised; the “right
to eat from the tree of life . . .” (Rev 2:7)
Adam and Eve were the first people who had the right to
partake of the tree of life. When they disobeyed God, they were prevented from
ever eating of that tree again, (Gen 3:22) for their disobedience had
disqualified them.
In Ezekiel we read again about trees whose fruit was for food, and leaves for healing. These trees were eternal; their leaves and fruit never failed (Ez 47:12). The trees were nurtured from the river of Life, which came from the sanctuary. We see a glimpse in this vision of the tree of life mentioned at the end of Revelation, on either side of the river of God, and whose leaves are for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2). God is promising restoration of Man’s broken relationship with God, back to the fellowship and fruitful eternal life that Adam and Eve shared with Him in the Garden of Eden.
The promise of a fruitful life and eternal life, one in which ministry can bring healing to others, is made possible through Jesus Christ’s atonement on the cross. Though made possible, we still run the risk of disqualifying ourselves by the same means as Adam and Eve; through disobedience. Why is our obedience to God so important? Because it is the manifestation of our love.
John writes that “If anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him” (1 Jn 2:5). Here we see the coupling of love and obedience. The only way we will bear fruit in our lives is to let Jesus’ words have their place of obedience in us (Jn 15:7). That obedience is a love-born act, and sets us into the relationship we covet with the Father and the Son (Jn 15:10). It is because Jesus taught obedience to the Word that He then comes in Revelation to speak about disobedience and disqualification. But because He is the Word, Jesus also holds out the remedy for disobedience. He offers each church healing from those ways which would disqualify them, for He covets a relationship based in love with us all.
Without accepting the concept that our love-motivated obedience qualifies us to eat from the tree of life, the rest of Revelation makes little sense. It is Jesus’ love that caused Him to reach out to the seven churches with the very healing they needed in order to continue in Him. Those that think they are in Christ and will always be in God’s good graces may not see the flame of love grow cold in their hearts. Let us listen to God’s words, and obey them, letting love grow within, for God covets to share eternal life with us. Amen.
In Ezekiel we read again about trees whose fruit was for food, and leaves for healing. These trees were eternal; their leaves and fruit never failed (Ez 47:12). The trees were nurtured from the river of Life, which came from the sanctuary. We see a glimpse in this vision of the tree of life mentioned at the end of Revelation, on either side of the river of God, and whose leaves are for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2). God is promising restoration of Man’s broken relationship with God, back to the fellowship and fruitful eternal life that Adam and Eve shared with Him in the Garden of Eden.
The promise of a fruitful life and eternal life, one in which ministry can bring healing to others, is made possible through Jesus Christ’s atonement on the cross. Though made possible, we still run the risk of disqualifying ourselves by the same means as Adam and Eve; through disobedience. Why is our obedience to God so important? Because it is the manifestation of our love.
John writes that “If anyone obeys His word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him” (1 Jn 2:5). Here we see the coupling of love and obedience. The only way we will bear fruit in our lives is to let Jesus’ words have their place of obedience in us (Jn 15:7). That obedience is a love-born act, and sets us into the relationship we covet with the Father and the Son (Jn 15:10). It is because Jesus taught obedience to the Word that He then comes in Revelation to speak about disobedience and disqualification. But because He is the Word, Jesus also holds out the remedy for disobedience. He offers each church healing from those ways which would disqualify them, for He covets a relationship based in love with us all.
Without accepting the concept that our love-motivated obedience qualifies us to eat from the tree of life, the rest of Revelation makes little sense. It is Jesus’ love that caused Him to reach out to the seven churches with the very healing they needed in order to continue in Him. Those that think they are in Christ and will always be in God’s good graces may not see the flame of love grow cold in their hearts. Let us listen to God’s words, and obey them, letting love grow within, for God covets to share eternal life with us. Amen.
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