And like a veil that has been lifted now I see
A glimpse of what the Father has for me
For there beyond the splendor
Lies a vision of the cross
I was having a hard time placing my most beloved of all, my children on the altar. It seemed my surrender was so close to complete but this last sacrifice was more than I could stand. Then God made real to me a term that I am still exploring. This term was the very prod that I needed to give up my babies. The term; "everyman a tree."
With those three words came an immeasurable wave of understanding. In simplest terms, my son and my daughter were destined to taste the fullness of Christ's cross that they might bring forth the full bounty of the Tree of Life which they would eventually be. The Cross and the Tree of Life are in reality the same tree and we grow up into that very Tree. Everyman a tree.
And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine. Eze 47:12
And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of
the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Rev 22:1,2
Yes, whether on this side of the grave or the other we all will experience the full measure of the cost of love wrought by Christ and His Cross. We were in Christ at Calvary and soon we shall share the full remembrance. We suffer to fill up His sufferings and thus He ours. Christ within us, we within Christ, a mysterious symbiotic relationship likened unto no other. But as we and those we love suffer we, as I am sure Jesus did, can steal away to look upon the that great River of God that flows through eternity and see each of our "crosses turned Trees of Life .......... trees, beautiful, innumerable all born of one Root.
With such shared suffering comes the fullness of glory unspeakable and so does the cross made into the tree of life, for the healing of the nations. If you could picture it in your mind, the making of you, me and our children into Trees of Life is the most incredible of destinies. To heal, to love, to make whole all that have been maimed, tormented and disfigured inside and out by this fallen nature. To wipe away the last tears, amidst a chorus of song of unspeakable joy. Surely it can't get any better than that. And tonight I weep, for to soon experience such a glorious day of healing. I even thrill, that for some such a day has arrived.
The flow of God's river is surrounded on both sides by trees of life. A tree is "wood" which represents humanity. And on the trees are leaves representing life. This life is for to heal the nations. This is also "Theosis"......... Humanity becoming Divinity.
Yes, my children will suffer like me "all" of the cross of Christ that we may share in "all" of His glory, that God might be "ALL IN ALL" No substitutionary atonement here, as the Church teaches. We are all in it together and it could only be that way, with God being ALL IN ALL. Selah.
There stands the cost
And like a veil that has been lifted now I see
A glimpse of what the Father has for me
For there beyond the splendor
Lies a vision of the cross
And the Father calls to me
There stands the cost.
Lord bless you to know His Cross,
Jack
Note: opening & closing poem by Larnelle Harris
