Sturdy Oak, Mighty Sequoyah

Yesterday afternoon we celebrated my husband's side of our family at the Cochran family reunion.  It is a gathering that usually occurs at Cousin Peg's house, the lovely ancestral home, out in the "country".  In front of Peg's house is a large tree.  Recently, the remnants of Hurricane Irma blew through this area, and many, many trees did not survive the storm. Peg estimates the tree in front of her house, a gorgeous, sturdy oak, has endured for over 100 years.

Perhaps, one day, I will do a study about "trees in the Bible", but for now, here are a few tidbits.  We read in Genesis about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and also The Tree of Life, both of which grew in the Garden of Eden.  The Tree of Life is also mentioned in the book of Revelation.  In a way, this tree "bookends" the Bible, a book which in all its various components points us to the Author of Life.  Of course, the only Savior "bore our sins in His body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24) when He gave His life sacrificially on the wooden cross.  And, that is the centerpiece of the Bible.

Another of my favorite biblical tree references occurs in Psalm 1.  It is a short psalm and one that is beneficial for memorization.  Here are the first three verses (NIV):

1Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither—

whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

Like the person described in these verses, Peg's tree has not lived a long time because it is strong; it is strong because it has learned how to bend, adapt and survive...how to live.

One of the finest young ministers I've followed in recent years died three days ago, at the age of 34. Nabeel Qureshi has, through his relatively short ministry, been used by God to bring untold thousands to faith in Jesus Christ.  And, I have no doubt his impact will be felt for many, many years to come. There is absolutely no doubt Nabeel loved the Lord and His "law", His ways, His truth.  Why, then, did God decide to take him on home?  Who can know the mind of God?  Certainly, not I.

Muslim mockers began to accuse Nabeel of getting stomach cancer because he forsook Islam and embraced Jesus Christ as the only way to God.  Yet, Nabeel's faith in Jesus Christ was unwavering. In one of his last videos, speaking to a Houston congregation, he affirmed his faith in Messiah Jesus, "no matter what", "even if the worst should happen and I should die of this disease".

https://youtu.be/U4AQBYf3wRY

I hope you listened to that.  How beautiful, the unshakeable faith of this man!
Even though Nabeel suffered greatly, the Bible describes him and any who forsake mockers and sinners for Jesus Christ as fruitful, spiritually healthy trees....trees who pull their sustenance from the waters of the Word of God and who sink their roots deep into Him.  Their branches are laden with spiritual fruit, and God blesses those ministries.  Nabeel's vibrant spirit and Sprit-filled ministry make me think of a mighty Sequoyah!

"This God - - - His ways are perfect...."
I have to keep telling myself that, as I move on through this life .
And, the rest of that verse, "the word of the Lord PROVES TRUE (emphasis mine).  He is a shield to all who trust in Him."  (Psalm 18:30).

All humans have their struggles, day in and day out.  That is for sure.  The Lord causes the rain to fall on both the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:45).  But, when I find someone who has deliberately chosen to walk hand-in-hand with those who have contempt for or have rejected God and who has bought into ungodly world views, I have to wonder if much of their trouble is due to their rejection of God.  I thought about them while thinking of all the trees who lay in our streets, on our houses and (not to forget) on our power lines in recent days.

Yes, Nabeel's physical tree has fallen, and our broken world is a sadder, poorer place.  But, I have not one shred of doubt that God will use even this for His greater glory.

When we lean into God during times of trouble, when we fill our minds and hearts with His truth from the very inspired Word of God, we gain a "root system" that can withstand any storm.  A root system that endures forever, extending into an assured eternity with the one, true God.  In that, we are so very, truly blessed!

https://youtu.be/PytcWHsJwWY