RUSSELL SANDERS
11-2-2021
THE FRUIT OF THE RIGHTEOUS
Proverbs 11:30 says, “The fruit of the righteous is a “Tree of Life….”. Who are the righteous? Those who believe on the Lord and follow Him are clothed with His righteousness.
What is the Tree of Life? We first see it in the paradise God created on earth called Eden. It was right in the middle (Genesis 2:9) of that garden paradise.
After Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, God placed angels at the east (the only) entrance to the garden to keep them from eating of the Tree of Life. No man was ever again to enter Eden on earth.
If Adam, or any person, had eaten of it, they would have gained eternal life on earth with a sinful nature. Presumably all their progeny would have lived eternally in sin. Lucifer would be supreme in all the earth. God would not allow that.
God provides a path to righteousness. It was laid out in his written word and fulfilled in Christ, through who we are made righteous (right standing before God). Through Christ we will eat the fruit of the Tree of Life and live forever. But it is no longer in the Edenic paradise. It is in the paradise of heaven. Revelation 2:7b says, “To him that overcometh will I (Christ) give to eat of the Tree of Life which is in the midst of the paradise of God.”
Revelation 22:2 describes the River of Life in heaven. It is a crystal pure river of water that flows out from the throne of God and the Lamb of God. As the river flows down heaven’s street (path or riverbed), on both sides of it are found the Tree of Life yielding a different fruit each of twelve months. Its leaves bring healing to the multitudes (nations) of people.
Revelation 22:14 says that the righteous “have right to (eat of) the Tree of Life.” Yes, they have overcome” and have gained the right to an eternal life of righteousness.
The last part of the opening verse of Proverbs 11:30 says, “…. And he that winneth souls is wise.” Why is that coupled with “the fruit of the righteous is a Tree of Life.”? It is not just the fruit of the Tree that you shall eat, but souls you win to the kingdom are the fruit of your life that you present in heaven to God at the Bema Seat judgment for your rewards. They also get to eat of the fruit of the Tree of Life in heaven. They are your fruit.
The fruit of a Christian is another Christian.
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