“Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life—bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the city’s street. On either side of the river was a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
—Revelation 22:1-2 TLV
We have come to the last chapter in the book of Revelation, and in this chapter we reach the crescendo of Genesis to Revelation. Now, if you want the full context of this chapter I suggest you read chapters 19-21 first and read chapter 22. However, for this devotional I will give a little context. In chapter 21 we find that there is a new Heaven and a new Earth, with the addition of the New Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven to Earth. When we move into chapter 22, we find God the Father and Yeshua reigning from the New Jerusalem. This city is described in great detail, but one of the things John sees, and makes sure to point out, is the Tree of Life.
Now this is interesting! We all know the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden and how they took the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil but were removed from the Garden before they could take a bite from the Tree of Life.
So, what is it about this tree and why is it so special? John gives us some insight into this, and I believe it will give you hope and inspiration to overcome. John says that the Tree of Life bears fruit continually and its leaves heal the nations. John sees this tree in the New Jerusalem, the holy city, as a source of power and healing. Now, just a few verses later John reads some powerful words from Yeshua who uses the Tree of Life as a reward or inspiration of why we should be hopeful and overcome!
“Then he tells me, ‘Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do righteousness, and the holy still be holy. Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to pay back each one according to his deeds. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. How fortunate are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and may enter through the gates into the city.’”
—Revelation 22:10-14 TLV
What I want to point out and what I want us to focus on about the Tree of Life, is that Yeshua could have listed many rewards and pointed out many amazing things about the eternal age and our future rewards. However, what Yeshua highlights as a motivator and a privilege when He returns to judge is the right to the Tree of Life!
Yeshua says “Behold my reward is with Me, to pay back each one according to his deeds” and the primary motivator He uses to inspire hope to do righteous acts (mitzvah) and to be holy is the Tree of Life. Notice the tree is in the holy city and you need access to get there. Yeshua says if you overcome in this life, you also gain the right to “enter through the gates into the city” where the Tree of Life is located.
Maybe you have not thought about the Tree of Life in a long time, but Yeshua reminds us again of the tree that Adam and Eve lost the right to in Genesis. Now at the end of the story in our recorded Scriptures, Yeshua says upon His return, by overcoming in this life, we gain the right to the Tree of Life and to enter the New Jerusalem! Remember, Yeshua prayed for us to be one with Him and the Father (John 17) and to be where He and the Father dwell in glory. It started in the holy garden and will end in a holy city, but at the center will be the Tree of Life.
Now take some time to carefully reflect on the questions below and journal your answers.
- What is God saying through His Word?
- What is God saying to me?
- How should/can I respond?
