The Tree of Life (Part 1)

Hey there, Mosaic!

As we dive into these letters that Peter wrote 2,000 years ago, it doesn’t take long to see why Peter is writing them. These believers are beginning to face significant persecution for being followers of Jesus. They were facing difficulties from their countrymen, the Jews, for abandoning their adherence to the Mosaic Law and the traditions of the religious leadership. They were also facing difficulties from non-believers because they wouldn’t join in with the same sinful things they were doing. They were like a people without a home—they didn’t fit in anywhere.

Except they did! They fit in perfectly in the Kingdom of Heaven into which they were born again. We hear Peter time and time again reminding these dear saints who were facing “fires” for following Jesus that this place is not their home. They are now citizens of God’s heaven, and life in this world won’t -- and shouldn’t -- fit.

This world is still hanging on the branches of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The “Good” strive for moralism, ethics, and religious activity to satisfy their empty souls. The “Evil” are enslaved to the power of Sin and its desires flow through them. Both of these, while apparent extremes, are just hanging from different branches of the same tree.

But the gospel brings us to a NEW TREE, The Tree of Life—Jesus Himself. In this Tree, Jesus satisfies, Jesus fulfills, Jesus provides, Jesus ensures, Jesus guarantees, Jesus completes -- just to name a few! In this Tree, there’s no more striving to be holy, moral, and religious, for He has made us holy by birth. In this Tree, the desires of Sin in the flesh are weak and powerless in the face of the all-satisfying Jesus!

This is why the early believers 2000 years ago didn’t fit in the world, and it’s the same reason we don’t fit today. And it’s ok! We have died to this world, and this world to us. We are here as ambassadors to share the great news to all who would hear that there is something greater than a Knowledge of Good and Evil. There’s LIFE! True Life. Eternal Life. Satisfying Life. Fulfilling Life. All in Jesus.

As we prepare to get together this Sunday, take a minute and reflect on what you have in Jesus. You have God Himself! The very same God who flung the stars into space now lives in you—one with you! This is how we will get through the “fiery trails” of this world…not by trying to “fit in” but by realizing who we now are—beloved sons and daughters of the Most High!

I really hope to see you Sunday at Mosaic.

Walt Davis