So much has occurred after four trees in the Bible’s narrative and in the gospel message they begin forming. However, even after trees of Life, Freedom, Faithfulness and Forgiveness, there is one remaining problem: Every human is still going to die, and your spirit will be separated from the body and world you were designed by God to live in.
Interestingly, as the Bible comes to a close in its final two chapters we discover ‘the end’ isn’t really an end but a new beginning. Earth and Heaven are joined together forever, and the fifth tree appears, which is actually the return of the first tree. So, how do we gain access to the Tree of Life again?
Well, first of all, God says that He is making all things new when He triumphantly announces it in the Bible’s conclusion. And, secondly, God shows that He is making all things new through the resurrection of Jesus. Three days after His death on the cross, Jesus was resurrected and has become the first part of the physical universe to experience absolute renewal. He is therefore the one (and only one!) through whom all people and all creation will be resurrected too.
The concept of resurrection is perplexing. On one hand it triggers hope, and yet on the other it seems impossible. However, if there is indeed a God, is the notion of resurrection far-fetched at all?
The gospel hinges upon the resurrection of Jesus and boldly announces that Jesus is the one true Lord and Saviour of all creation, that death, evil and sin are ultimately defeated, and that God’s new world has already begun emerging. The Tree of Renewal symbolizes the great hope we have that in the end there is a new beginning marked by the complete healing of humanity and creation to God’s original harmonious purposes, forever!
The Bible tells us that Jesus’ grave was in a garden. What a setting for a resurrection! In scripture’s first garden we observe humanity asserting their independence and ushering death into all creation. Behold Jesus, undoing the calamity of human independence, overthrowing the reign of death, and commencing the renewal of all things with His very own resurrection life!