FOREST WINDS

The September winds are kicking up,
and the poplars, all so grandy,
along the road are saying, “Turn!
Your way is not too dandy!”
 
Their silvery leaves are showing me,
as the sun falls in, and merry,
that the way I go is not that good,
and I’d best let someone carry—
 
Carry me to where the birches dance,
and the ferns, on a wind a-borning,
do swirl and twirl, as I listen well,
to their end-of-summer warning—
 
Warning of the way that I think’s right,
which is not, to be contrary;
for there are commandments to obey,
and they’re anything but airy!

 

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way of death.
Proverbs 14:12

 

 

FOREST WINDS

The September winds are kicking up, here in my neck of the woods. A yellow hue tinges the trees and some leaves are showing orange and red. The crisper nights of Autumn have begun here in Veery Glade.

While walking on the faithful trail, have you ever noticed a lone fern twirling in a windy swirl as if it were waving while other ferns remained motionless? Even in the small things, creation speaks the truth of God.

And I hear it telling me about the tree of life. This special tree, mentioned at the beginning and the end of the Bible, is unique to Heaven, and no where to be found in Hell.

And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2:9

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

Revelation 2:7

The tree of life was centrally located in the Garden of Eden and we read, also, in Paradise. (Note the first and last books of the Bible and second chapters!) When Jesus hung on the cross, He used the word 'Paradise' to the believing thief. A definition of Paradise, or Heaven, is a place of extreme beauty, peace, and great happiness. 

God is good and what He created was good. But tricked by the serpent, Adam and Eve disobeyed. God's holy character cannot allow disobedience to go uncorrected. So, He appointed curses. Do we not all deserve a consequence when we have done wrong? Even so, God, by His great love and in His great wisdom, had already worked out how the consequence of sin would be paid for.

For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.

Romans 8:19-23

We live in a cursed world. The very ground we walk on bears the consequence of Adam's sin. Thorns, disease, old ladies who prove to be malicious, young men who become vile—we all live in a fallen world and are, indeed, fallen.

But the good news is: God's mercy! In His great mercy, God provided the last Adam.

And so it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

1 Corinthians 15:45

The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:47

The second Adam is Jesus—the Lord from Heaven. Jesus, the Son of God, bore our curses on the cross. He alone has the power to restore all of humanity and creation. Redemption through the forgiveness of sin is available to all. Jesus knows every heart. He stands for the believer and He has power to cast the wicked to the depths of Hell. Those who trust the sacrifice of Christ on the cursed tree will be raised to see the tree of life.

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.

Revelation 22:1-3

A scene of peace, of sin-free living, and no more curse. Jesus, the Lamb of God who was slain for us, has power alone to bring believers to the tree of life. For us, He hung on the tree of death so that we may enjoy the tree of life.

 

Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Revelation 22:14

We can know His commands. Search His Word. We can find wisdom if we ask God for it. God is able to grow us in faith and the knowledge of Him. We can put our confidence in Him.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her.

Proverbs 3:18

"She" is wisdom.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Proverbs 11:30

A good tree bears good fruit. A bad tree bears bad fruit. Abraham believed, and it was credited to him as righteousness. No one is righteous on their own. But Christ's righteousness is imputed on the believer. And the winner of souls is wise.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

A longing fulfilled is wonderful! Isn't that true?

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4

Isn't that true?

These four proverbs speak clearly and rightly. Do we have the ears to hear? Someday, those who have the ears to hear and the believing heart in Jesus, God's provision, will see the tree of life in Heaven.

For The Joy: Poems Reflecting on Christ's Death and Resurrection

I am excited to share this book with readers, coming March 2027. I hope to have a book trailer soon.

FOCUS ON PRAYER

Pray for those grieving from the loss of life due to the flood in Nepal. 

Pray for the exploitation of children to end. Pray the vile predators be dealt with. God heard the outcry from people praying about the horrible sin in Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:20-21) and He is very able to also hear today's pleas against grievous deeds.

FINAL VERSE AND THOUGHT

Therefore, as through one man's offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous.

Romans 5:18-19

Jesus is the mercy-bearer for His Father and the giver of the tree of life in Heaven.