The Case of the Missing Tree

Powerful winds often topple entire trees. Other times the wind only blows the top off a dead tree and leaves the base standing. That happened a few years ago at the lake. Usually the top of the tree ends up lying close to the decapitated trunk. Not this time.

The wind drove its top across the lake until it landed near the shore of our cottage. I thought we were stuck with this huge tree grounded firmly on our beach forever. I tried to be positive about the situation by dreaming of my grandsons straddling that dead wood and pretending to be driving a boat. But I was wrong.

This year the top of that dead tree disappeared in another wind storm. Curious, I searched for it in the canoe. My husband thought it had likely drifted out into the middle of the lake and sunk to the bottom.

Thinking of that missing tree reminded me of the sins of a believer. God promised, “As far as the east is from the west, so far he has removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12, NIV). Likewise Jeremiah writes, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more” (Jeremiah 31:34, NIV). Then Micah states, “You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19, NIV).

How reassuring! Our sins are just like that missing tree. God will never confront us with our sins and demand payment because the precious blood of Jesus paid the price. His blood covers the sins of believers. As far as God is concerned your sin is lost in the depths of the sea. Of course, this implies true repentance and not a license to sin.   

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The Blessings of Spring

In Canada everyone knows the difference between winter and spring. Until I spent a lot of time in southern California, I did not realize that people living there also see a difference in the seasons. Last January my three-year-old grandson in California wondered why some plants in his dad’s garden were dead. I told him that they would come back to life in the spring.

This cycle of life and death reminds me of a similar spiritual principle in the Bible. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains only a seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds” (John 12:24, NIV). In saying this, Jesus was trying to prepare his disciples for his death and resurrection.

When Jesus did die and was buried in the tomb, the disciples were confused and sad. Three days later their grief turned to unspeakable joy at Jesus’ resurrection. By dying without sin, the Lord Jesus was able to take our place. The sinless Son of God took the punishment for sinners. Therefore Jesus the God-man received life through death.

 Unlike Jesus, we were born spiritually dead, but we may receive life by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” (Romans 5:10, NIV).

Have you accepted this priceless gift of God—eternal life—by trusting that Jesus paid the penalty for your sins? The blessings of spring could not come without the reality of winter.

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