John 15:5 NIV
“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in Me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing.”
My friend, what fruits are you producing in your life?
Did you know we have access to two vines? Each of these vines has a purpose in humanity’s story. Two trees—two vines—define the entire narrative of human life:
- The Tree of Knowledge: where humanity reached for wisdom apart from God.
- The Tree of the Cross: where Jesus surrendered His will to the Father and became the Tree of Life, giving humanity another chance to choose God.
The first tree brought separation and death because humanity believed Satan’s word over God’s Word. We must remember: God did not make humankind sin; humanity chose its own path instead of trusting God.
Yet despite our rebellion, while we were drowning in our sins (Romans 5:6–7), God sent His Word in the flesh (John 1:14) to become the only Tree that could bring forgiveness, restoration, and life. My friend, the second tree, Jesus Christ, is God giving us another opportunity to eat from the Tree of Life again.
Do you recall the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus wrestled with the ultimate choice to fully surrendering His will to the Father?
Matthew 26:39 (NIV):
“Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.’”
In that sacred moment, Jesus reversed the decision made in Eden.
Where Adam and Eve said, “My will be done,” Jesus said, “Thy will be done.”
That is the heart of redemption — one act of surrender restoring what disobedience had broken.
And one day, in the New Jerusalem, we will see the Tree of Life again, “bearing twelve crops of fruit… for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2).
My friend, that New Jerusalem is not what we know here on earth. It is beyond human comprehension. Revelation 22:1–6 and Revelation 7 give us only a small glimpse of what awaits, every soul from every nation, united under the love of God.
Through Christ, we are restored, not to the innocence of Eden, but to something greater: redeemed purity. Because of Adam and Eve’s choice, we now know both good and evil. Yet through faith in Jesus Christ and surrendering to Him, we receive the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to choose righteousness.
This is love perfected: not innocence regained, but holiness chosen.
My friend, let us choose Jesus Christ — the Tree of Life — as the very oxygen that fuels our bodies and our souls.
