The Cedar Tree

The giant cedar tree with its network of branches and verdant green leaves had stood by the roadside for years. Its foliage shaded all the passersby who needed rest and shelter from the burning sun. Winter came, and it seemed odd to see it bare.

For six months, I watched with great expectation.

Then it dawned on me that someone had kindled a fire in the hollow trunk to kill it. Every day, I wondered why somebody wanted to deprive us of the shade for our car on the hot days. Time went by, and just before Easter, it rained for two weeks. Good Friday passed, and on Easter Sunday, I was surprised to see tiny buds peeping out of the bare tree. Slowly, the tree was clothed in greenness and waved its leaves and branches in the air as if praising God. When I mentioned it to my husband, he exclaimed, “It’s resurrection morning, and God has resurrected the tree to put to shame those who were trying to kill it.” In Psalm 1, David likens the righteous to a “tree planted by the rivers of waters” (verse 3). This was the case with our cedar tree. In Mark 11:12–14, Jesus pronounces judgment on a barren fig tree. Instead of early mature figs in spring, it had only leaves.

This tree was supposed to bear fruit in spring and summer, but the onlookers found only abundant leaves in spring. It was giving promise of fruit.

But it was a hypocritical tree, so Jesus cursed it, and the disciples marveled to see how this large tree dried up from the root. What type of tree are you? Are you like the one planted by the river that will bear fruit? Or are you like the barren fig tree, just spreading your leaves and unable to bear fruit? If you feel more like the cedar tree, with the fire of destruction burning at your root and your spiritual leaves falling, don’t lose hope. Resurrection morning is coming, and you will receive new life to bring forth the fruit of Galatians 5. If you are cut down, may your influential light continue to shine so that others will come to know Christ as their Savior.

Bula Rose Haughton Thompson