James 1:17
Every good and
perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
who does not change like shifting shadows.
The
sun beat down of me as I jogged through the neighborhood. Sweat ran down my forehead
and into my eyes. I wiped it away with my shirt and trudged on. Then I ran into
the shade of a large oak tree. Immediately there was relief from the heat of
the sun. It was almost as if I had stepped into air-conditioning.
During
these hot, summer months, I have learned to appreciate the shade of a tree. On
more than one occasion, the shade of a tree has been a life-saver. When we
first began our summer mission trips to Ukraine, we ministered in a small
village named Votilivka. The church was a typical Ukrainian building made of
thick walls and windows sealed tightly shut. The temperature inside of the building
was usually hotter than outside. The mud brick walls acted almost like an oven,
capturing the heat and radiating it inside. Our salvation was a huge, spreading
tree in the front yard.
We
had gone to Ukraine to work with a local church by providing a day-camp experience
for the children of the village. We quickly realized that the combination of
the number of children and the confines of the church building were not going
to make for a positive experience. So the shade of the huge tree became our
meeting place. It remained that way every year that we ran the day-camp for
that village.
I
was reminded on my run the other day about what a gift trees are. Trees are God’s
natural air-conditioners. They absorb the heat of the sun and shield us from
its penetrating rays. If you have ever walked from an open field into a wood,
you have experienced this amazing phenomenon. But trees area a gift in many
other was as well.
Trees
are God’s natural air-purifiers. They have the ability to absorb carbon dioxide
and release oxygen back into the air. By doing this, they help to purify the
air that we breath. The more trees that are present, the better the air
quality.
Trees
are a renewable source of wood, which can be used for fuel or for building. Many
a winter night I have basked in the warmth of a wood fire brightly burning in
my fireplace. Who hasn’t been captivated by the allure of a campfire on a crisp
night? As a woodworker, I have come to greatly appreciate the beauty and
diversity of wood. The different species of trees offers the woodworker an
amazing variety of raw materials with which to work. These raw materials, once
shaped, sanded, and polished, can be used to create a wide array of beautiful
objects, both functional and decorative.
Of
course, trees also provide habitat for a variety of creatures. They provide
food, shelter, and protection. A stand of trees is usually alive with activity.
Many animals are dependent upon trees for their very survival.
From
the Garden of Eden on, trees have been a symbol of God’s provision and
protection. They symbolize stability and fruitfulness. Trees are one of the
longest living organisms on earth. Therefore, trees are used as a symbol of
faithfulness, both of God and of people.
Psalm
1 draws these ideas together in a composite picture.
Blessed is the
man
who does not
walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the
way of sinners
or sit in the
seat of mockers.
But his delight
is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law
he meditates day and night.
He is like a
tree planted by streams of water,
which yields
its fruit in season
and whose leaf
does not wither.
Whatever he
does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Jeremiah
tells us that the person who puts their trust in the Lord is like a
well-established tree.
"But
blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
whose
confidence is in him.
He will be like
a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not
fear when heat comes;
its leaves are
always green.
It has no
worries in a year of drought
and never fails
to bear fruit."
Jeremiah 17:7-8
The
book of Revelation uses the image of trees to represent the amazing reality of
the new heaven and the new earth.
Then the
angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing
from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of
the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve
crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are
for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:1-2
Trees
are one of God’s great gifts to us. They refresh us in so many ways. They are also
a constant reminder of His faithfulness, love, and grace toward us. As we sink
our roots deeply into God’s Word, as we draw closer and closer to God through
Christ, we discover His sustaining power. Through our relationship with Christ,
we become both fruitful and resilient.
So
the next time you experience the amazing coolness offered by the shade of a tree,
stop and thank God for His amazing gift.
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