The Tree Of Life

A terrible tragedy took place this week in Pittsburgh where a crazed gunman shot and killed 11 at a Jewish Synagogue called The Tree of Life. Antisemitism is still alive and is actually increasing in several European countries. Here in the United States it resides in a small group of Neo-Nazis, among many in the growing Muslim populations but is showing even greater signs of resurgence on many college and university campuses.

The evil one has always hated the Jewish people and is certainly behind the "death to all Jews" sentiment proclaimed by the individual who carried out this atrocity. The upper room where the shooting took place would have normally been filled with children but as fate would have it the crowd that day was much older. One married couple were in their 50's, the rest were in their 60's, 70's, 80's and one in her late 90's.

I have been in Genesis recently and recall God noticing of man before the flood that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually (6:5). Of all the men on earth only Noah was found righteous. God destroyed all life from that world but saved Noah and his family through the ark. Yet righteousness is not inherited. There was a chosen line though that went from Adam to Seth, from Seth to Noah and from Noah's son Shem to Abraham, father of the Hebrew people.

There is another line that takes us from Abraham through the tribe of Judah to David and finally to the promised Messiah Jesus. He would by the shedding of His blood and His glorious resurrection defeat the serpent of old and reverse the curse of Adam and Eve eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

We would now know the will of God not from law and tradition but rather from the Holy Spirit who could now dwell within us. Jesus is also the Tree of Life and all who partake of Him will have eternal life with Him and the Father.

Below retells part of our original story, ending with a short poem inspired by the shooting.

The Tree Of Life

The garden was filled with many fruit giving trees
and in the center of Eden was placed the tree of life
as well as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

God told Adam that they were free to eat the fruit of
any tree except the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil - 'for the day you eat from it you shall surely die'

later the serpent appeared to Eve and asked - 'did God
really say you could not eat from it?' / Eve took from
the tree and gave some to Adam and for the first time

they realized they were naked / when God came to walk
through the garden in the cool of the evening they hid / but
God found them and in His mercy shed the blood of an

innocent animal to cover their nakedness with skins / yet
now there would be pain in childbirth and the ground was
cursed with thorns and thistles and bread would be eaten

by the sweat of their brow / death would be the end of each
man for they came from dust and to dust they would return
God said they have become like Us, knowing good and evil

so He sent Adam and Eve outside the garden to cultivate the
ground and placed a Cherubim to guard the way back in / lest
they eat from the tree of life and live, condemned, forever

In the midst of sparse wilderness
where grey owls are found waiting
came muted sounds of deep wailing
from wide rivers of bitterness

Yet the tears of His tenderness
flood soft grounds that were calling
spread fragrant ointment with caring
from the hands of His righteousness

Great Lakes Revival

Fresh waters of November
stirred into a turmoil

Ears shielded from deafening roar
terrible gales upon their surface

Face seared from burning heat
consuming flames extend past the horizon

Wave after wave after wave come crashing
each rolling ridge higher than others before

Whirlwind and fires lift me high above
molten red rivers of revival

Swiftly flowing past every village and town
sparks igniting fields and forests

In the midst of this shaking a strong voice
declaring - I am Righteous and True

From smoke rising up both day and night
come low groans and mighty shouts

Emerging from swirling haze the young armies
fearless, bold, earth shaking beneath them

Awake! Awake! you inland seas
now is the day you will give up your dead