THE TREE OF LIFE

With Vines, Branches, & Roots

“The LORD God caused to grow out of the ground every tree pleasing in appearance and good for food, including the tree of life in the middle of the garden, as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” Genesis 2:9

From the beginning of time, trees have been an important part of our world.

Trees have been known as symbols of strength, individuality and expression, calmness, growth, and the interconnectedness of everything.

In John 15:1-6, Jesus says,  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the Word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit because you can do nothing without Me. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

1Jesus identifies Himself as the vine; His Father is the gardener, and His followers are the “branches.” By telling this story, Jesus promised to produce fruit in the lives of believers. 

The branches have no life within themselves but receive life and are sustained by remaining attached to the vine. Those without fruit are either counterfeit followers or unproductive disciples, and probably the former. 

Those who are false followers and fruitless are cast into the fire. A branch apart from the vine and without the care of the keeper cannot produce fruit. This passage does not undercut the security of genuine believers but simply affirms the fate of those who are not genuine disciples. 

Discipleship is demonstrated by fruit-bearing. A Christian apart from Christ and without the provision of God cannot live a Christlike life and bring glory to God.  

2Bearing fruit" is a phrase used to describe the outward actions that result from the inward condition of a person's heart.

As Christians, we want to bear fruit in keeping with our relationship with God.

When we are connected and intentional about our relationship with God, we produce the fruit God cultivates within us. It is God who does the work in us; our fruit-bearing is simply a result of what He does.

How do we build our relationship with God? 

We do things like spend time in the Word of God (the Bible); pray and listen; worship God alone and with others; fast; and give our time, treasure, and talents. 

In short, we actively pursue God and flee from that which is sinful. 

To be sure, our focus as Christians is not the fruit we produce, but the connection we have with God. When we focus on our outward Christian life, we can become wrapped up in pretense which is to disguise our true motives. 

It is all too easy to live a Christian routine apart from any genuine connection to God. We can fall into the trap of putting on a “holy front” without experiencing real heart transformation.

In that case, the fruit we bear is our own, not that of the Holy Spirit, and our hearts are actually lacking Christ's love. 

Bearing fruit in the Christian life is not about doing works or attempting righteousness in our own strength. 

Rather, it is about intentionally growing in our walk with Christ, inviting the Holy Spirit's work of transformation in us, and actively obeying God in all He calls us to do. 

As we seek Him and lay down our own fleshly desires for His better ways, we will bear lasting fruit and serve as salt and light to a world in need of Jesus.

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It's no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.” Matthew 5:13

And, in Matthew 17:15-20,  “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.”

1There are many who will endeavor to lead others astray, but Christ assures His followers that the false prophets will be recognized by their fruit.  

“...and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17

For Christ to dwell in the hearts of God’s people provides an incredible strength and connection with the Father and His power. 

“So then, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, being rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing with gratitude.”  Colossians 2:6-7

In order to prepare for the enemy, Paul strongly encouraged these Colossian believers to continue to live in their faith just as they received Christ Jesus in the first place. 

1Essentially, he is saying,

“You began your Christian life with Christ; now continue it with Christ. 

We also have to be aware of bad roots that can arise in us as well; in Hebrews 12:15, “Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many.”

1Believers should also avoid any root of bitterness. This attitude comes from intense hostility and resentment. This bitter root produces diseased fruit such as jealousy, anger, conflict, and immorality.

A spirit of bitterness coils also infects others. Recognizing God’s grace in their lives helps believers overcome bitterness. Knowing they have received His forgiveness should encourage believers to extend that forgiveness to others. 

So, the next time you’re outdoors and really begin to notice the structure of a tree and what makes it continue to live season after season, I hope you will be reminded of the relationship that you have with Jesus. And how you can continue to cultivate this relationship through every season of your own life. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

1Holman. (n.d.). In The Study Bible for Women (pp. 1231, 1373, 1499, 1512, 1571). essay. 

2Home. CompellingTruth.org. (n.d.). https://www.compellingtruth.org/bearing-fruit.html

Today’s Bible verses are from the Christian Standard Bible