In the midst of the street of it and on either side of the river was there the tree of life, which bear twelve manner of fruits, and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2
When it comes to dealing with conflicts between various countries in the world, the United Nations has become a toothless tiger, complaining and whining and threatening, but with no authority or power to do anything about the crises that arise. Bitter civil wars are fought with little or no ability of outside agencies such as the United Nations to intervene or mediate. All of these conflicts are caused by one group in one country not able to understand or accept the ideas of another group of people in another country, or even in the same country. Tempers flare, hatreds brew, and blows occur. And nobody seems able to do anything about it as soldiers die and innocent bystanders suffer. If our first parents had not sinned in the Garden of Eden, all those problems would not have occurred, because the leaves of the Tree of Life would have been available. And in eternity, the Tree of Life will once again be available, to resolve all disputes that could ever arise in Heaven.
Our text tells us that the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. That is good news, because today the nations are sick, full of bitterness and animosity. And that applies to not just the relationships among nations and among races and among ethnic groups, but among families and individuals. We see these disagreements and dislikes all around us every day. Sometimes we are able to intervene and arrange for disputing parties to resolve their differences peacefully, but most times we can’t. What really is sad is when those disputes and animosities and hard feelings involve Christians within our Assemblies.
Disagreements and disputes involving Christians should never occur. But they do, as we forget the instructions from the Word of God to forgive, to love, to bear one anothers’ burdens. Such disagreements make a mess of testimonies, hinder the work of the Gospel, and cause all manner of harm within the company. We can strive to improve relationships and to resolve disagreements, and within the Assembly, wise and patient members of the oversight can often bring about resolution. But other problems involving other Christians will crop up later. There seems to be no perfect cure for the problem, no matter how hard we try. But there is a cure, and it is on its way.
The Tree of Life was lost to this world when sin entered. But there is no sin in Heaven, and the Tree of Life will once again be available. Its leaves will heal all diseases and resolve all disputes, because its leaves represent the absence of sin. Because no lies can be told, because no hatred can occur, because no anger can be displayed, because no offense can ever be manifested, all will be perfect and peaceful. Just like it should be here on earth if we listen to and obey the Word of God.
Even though the Tree of Life is not available yet, we can still seek to live in the good of its leaves of peace and love. -Jim MacIntosh