Feasting on the Tree of Life

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.  To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."  Revelation 2:7

I am reading Sam Storms devotional book on the churches in Revelation.  It was especially powerful this morning.  I actually have been meditating on this phrase quite a bit lately, "to the one who conquers."  That is the title of his book, and also it hearkens back to Natalie Grant's song that I posted a couple of weeks ago.  Both seem to be pointing to the same premise.  To the one who conquers, what does that mean?  Does it mean I crank out good deeds by the skin of my teeth, working ever so hard to produce "something" for God's glory?  When I live that way, all I hear is "what if's" or "if only I..."  When I live that way I sooner or later end up spiraling down a long dark tube of regret, misery, shame, and discouragement.  So, what does it mean to conquer in the Christian life?

When I was in college the phrase that was batted back and forth all the time was, "the victorious Christian life."  I am still not sure what the proponents of that way of living actually meant, but I know what I thought I heard.  If, I wasn't living victoriously, then I was a sub-par Christian.  What was wrong with me?  Sam Storms says Jesus here is telling us to remember the tree of life and meditate on it's provision for the one who conquers will eat of its blessed fruit forever.  He goes on to say that this points directly back to the place where we fell.  This is a restoration.  Our first parents were expelled from the Garden of Eden to prevent them from eating of the tree of life.  We will at last be restored!  Storms also says that the "tree" here is an allusion to the cross.  In the ancient cult of Diana the temple in Ephesus was dedicated to criminals fleeing and gaining asylum in order that they could continue in their life of rebellion and crime.  This cult was the tree cult.  "The contrasts are both stunning and encouraging.  For the Ephesian believers, 'the cross (the tree of life) was the place of refuge for the repentant sinner in contrast with the tree (in Diana's temple) which marked the asylum for the unrepentant criminal.'  Diana's so called tree of refuge gave the criminal immunity and license to continue his life of rebellion and crime.  Christ's tree of refuge, on the other hand, grants the repentant sinner eternal forgiveness and the power of the Spirit to pursue holiness (p. 54)."  For the church of Ephesus to hear about the tree of salvation they would have immediately identified with it, but would have seen the grace and salvation of Christ as the superior tree.  

What does this have to do with the victorious Christian life?  Everything!  I mentioned Natalie Grant's song, and have put it on the blog before, but it speaks to this very thing.  Here it is again.  

I have been the wayward child

I have acted out

I have questioned Sovereignty

And had my share of doubt

And though sometimes my prayers feel like

They're bouncing off the sky

The hand I hold won't let me go

And is the reason why...

Chorus:

I will stumble

I will fall down

But I will not be moved

I will make mistakes

I will face heartache

But I will not be moved

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand

All other ground is sinking sand

I will not be moved

Bitterness has plagued my heart 

Many times before

My life has been like broken glass 

And I have kept the score

Of all my shattered dreams and though it seemed 

That I was far too gone

My brokenness helped me to see

It's grace I'm standing on

Chorus

And the chaos in my life

Has been a badge I've worn

Though I have been torn

I will not be moved

(Natalie Grant)

We will not be moved, we will conquer, we will persevere not because of our good works, but because of His good work.  His good work on the tree to bring us salvation, refuge for criminals, guilty as charged.  Grace is what keeps us going, and in the words of Natalie Grant "my brokenness helped me to see It's grace I'm standing on."  It's not me cranking up another round of good works, exerting more and more self.  God shows us our brokenness and by grace we rest in the good fruit of repentance.  That's the Christian life!  My need of Him.  

To God be the Glory as He more and more shows His Church just how much we need Him........................Lynn