The Promise of Life

During my time in Australia, I have been amazed by the incredible amount of native trees growing on rocky hillsides, cliffs and in fields.  The Blue Mountains are covered by a sea of gum trees that extend beyond the visible horizon.  I recently went to Camp Kedron as speaker and looked out upon the innumerable trees with leaves in the morning sunlight that flickered in the breeze like golden flame.  It was a glorious moment to behold the greatness of God in His creation, for even as the sun rose high above trees and mountains God rules and reigns over all that is and will ever be.

Trees and all living things in creation provide evidence there is a Creator, a first Cause starting the cycle of trees that produce seeds from which new trees grow.  Bushfires are a common way the the bush is cleared and rejuvenated over time, and God has designed plants, animals and people to reproduce after their own kind.  In Isaiah 55, God used the example of rain that falls to the earth for the purpose to water plants and cause them to grow, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so His word will not return to Him without accomplishing His intended purposes.  Hard ground does not prevent the rain from falling, and by God's grace hearts of stone can be splintered by His word He also likens to a hammer.

The LORD God continued to speak through the prophet in Isaiah 55:12-13:  "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. ¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."  Even if people do not regard or heed God's word, those who fear the LORD can be joyful and glad in our God whose word never fails.  As I looked out upon shimmering leaves beyond count, I was blessed to consider the Light of the World Jesus Christ Who provides light in the darkness and raises the dead in sins to eternal life by the Gospel.  What joy is ours because of Jesus our LORD!

The ground brought forth thorns as a result of sin, yet by God's grace His people were given a prosperous, eternal future they could rejoice in.  The cypress and myrtle (gum trees too!) are all evergreen, unlike thorns and briers that flourish for a short season and then die and grow brittle.  God promised His people would go out with joy, be led by peace, and creation would rejoice before those He has transformed and made spiritually fruitful.  What was once a wilderness would be made paradise by God's saving grace, and may our lives also provide a fitting testimony of our great God Who has given us eternal life.  A tree cannot move itself, yet may the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives prompt us to voluntarily and freely praise and worship the God Who speaks.