Psalm 1:3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.
God’s passionate desire for you is to be like Jesus Christ, to be like the Psalm 1:3 tree planted by the rivers of water. This tree is not just any old tree. But rather, this tree is referring to the “tree of life” that appeared in the midst of the garden of Eden in Genesis, the book of beginnings, and appears in the middle of the street in the new Jerusalem in the book of Revelation, the book of endings. The tree of life is a real tree that not only allows you to understand spiritual truths about the life of God, but is also able to impart God’s life into your life.
The tree of life represents the divine, eternal, incorruptible life of God – the zoe life of God. The apostle John speaks about the zoe life of God throughout his gospel. He begins by saying, “In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” and “In Him (Jesus) was life (zoe life) … ” John 1:1-4. John shares that the purpose of his writings were so that you could have life (the zoe life of God) by believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. (John 20:31)
When Adam and Eve were created, they were made in the image of God, containing the very breath and life of God within them. (Gen. 1:27; 2:7) They were like the tree of life, like the Psalm 1:3 tree. However, God warned them that if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they would surely die. (Gen. 2:17) The devil appearing like a serpent told Eve that God was a liar – that they would not die, but rather they would be like God. (Gen. 3:4-5)
Although Adam and Eve were already like God filled with His very life, they believed the lie that the serpent told them. The serpent appealed to their natural reasoning. Was God truly withholding something good from them? Why would God withhold this one tree, when they had millions of trees they could eat from? Surely, there must be something very special about this tree that they could discover by eating it? They desired what they didn’t have, not fully realizing that they had everything. They wanted MORE. More what? More life? More pleasure? More wisdom? More “God-likeness”?
God’s passionate desire for you is to be like Jesus Christ, to be like the tree of life – like the Psalm 1:3 tree.
Is there something you want more of in your life? “More” in and of itself is not bad; however, it becomes evil when it violates God’s Word and will for your life. Romans 8:32 is a great verse to reflect upon, when this temptation arises for you, like it did for Adam and Eve. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.” (Rom. 8:32)
Adam and Eve chose to eat satan’s words, his lie, and thus, they chose to eat the forbidden fruit. Instantly, their lives became quite the opposite of what they thought they would gain. A chasm greater than the Grand Canyon opened within the depths of their heart as the life of God left them. Shame and guilt rushed in filling the emptiness within. They were not only kicked out of their home, the garden of Eden, but they were also no longer allowed access back into their home where the tree of life stood. Death had consumed their very lives and all that belonged to them.
Instead of fulfilling their God-given assignment to extend the blessing of God, His love – His garden, throughout all the earth, they caused the curse of death to infiltrate and have dominion over themselves, their descendants, and over God’s beautiful creation. (Rom. 6:23) From that moment forward as a result of their sin, a cry began to be heard from mankind throughout the ages, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” The answer – the tree of life, Jesus Christ – stood in the midst of the Garden of Eden, where mankind was no longer allowed to enter.
In the fulness of time, however, Jesus came into the world and declaring the very reason for His coming. “I have come that they may have life (zoe life), and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 Jesus came to restore the zoe life of God back to mankind. (1 Cor. 15:22) How can you enter into this beautiful transaction from death to life, from the curse to the blessing? There is only one way, through believing in Jesus Christ – believing He bore your sins in His own body on the tree of Calvary. ( I Peter2:24)
Jesus died so that you could be made in the likeness of His righteousness – His holiness, just like He originally intended for you. His fervent desire is for you to be “called a tree of righteousness” (Is. 61:3), so you can live eternally with Him (John 3:16) , growing more and more into the very likeness and image of His Son Jesus Christ, the tree of life. (2 Col. 3:18). If you want to learn more how your inner root system can be nourished and strengthened in God’s river of life, the river of His love, click here and watch or download the audio version from our last session “Called to Be Like the Tree of Life.”
Psalm 1:3 Declaration: Thank You Father for making me into the likeness of Your Son Jesus Christ, like the tree of life. I choose today to drink from the rivers of Your love for me. As I do this, I will be bear fruit and my leaves will not wither. Moreover, in whatever I do I will prosper!