A Tree Of Life

Terry Siverd
07/26/20 - Sun AM

Link to sermon video: A Tree Of Life - T Siverd

A TREE OF LIFE

Sermon By Terry Siverd / July 26, 2020 / Cortland  Church of Christ

Due to an ongoing uptick in the virus, our Sunday AM Gatherings remains suspended throughout the month of August. This is a decision that has been weighed carefully by our church shepherds as they try to do what's best for our entire flock ...... It's hard to believe that Gabriella Chester recently celebrated her “sweet sixteenth” birthday.  Seems like only yesterday she was a toddler.

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2020 has been forever altered by the COVID-19 virus.  The suspension of our worship assemblies and other gatherings has left us longing for a restoration.  We're eagerly hoping that “the good ole days” will return - - preferably sooner than later.  Had we not been confronted by the cornonavirus, today would have signaled the start of our annual Camp 2:52 Summer Youth Retreat.  Last December, preliminary plans were finalized for this summer's retreat.  Nic & Haley Wildman were appointed to be our new directors; Camp Koinonia in Geneva was chosen to be our new venue; and the last week of July was selected as our new time slot.  This summer would have been our 44^th consecutive annual youth retreat.  So many have been saddened by the cancellation of camp, but circumstances necessitated such.  Directors, counselors, campers and cooks have all been a bit bummed out as a result.  Let's us all pray that, Lord willing, the summer of 2021 will herald a robust return to our beloved CAMP 2:52.

As I share this brief message with you this morning, our teens and preteens are on my mind.  Adolescence is a critical developmental stage in life.  Starting way back in 1977, our summer youth retreat has impacted lives (across five decades), providing young and old with a time of renewal and "centering".  

Over the last 4½ months, in an evolving and extended sermon series that I have labeled, Turbulence, I've appealed to us repeatedly to look to the wisdom literature of the Old Testament for help and guidance.  Over the upcoming month I want to encourage us all to immerse ourselves in the Psalms and Proverbs.  Let's make it our goal to read one psalm and one proverb every day during the month of August.  Our aim is not to just read the verses, but to digest them and ponder deeply how we can apply them.

As we offer another brief message this morning, I invite you to open your Bible to Proverbs chapter three.  This text begins with the admonition of a father to his children - - My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments (Prov.3:1).  This ancient exhortation from Solomon comes with promises percolating with many very tangible benefits:  length of days and years of life; peace; favor and good repute; straight paths; bodily health and and refreshment to your bones; barns filled and vats overflowing.  cf. Prov.3:2-10.  The text depicts a father strongly imploring with his son (daughters, too).  Do not let kindness and truth leave you - - BIND THEM around your neck and WRITE THEM on the tablet of your heart.  TRUST IN THE LORD with all your heart.  Do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE (THE LORD) … FEAR THE LORD … HONOR THE LORD  (Prov.3:3-9).  In Prov.3:13, Solomon engages in “the personification of WISDOM”.  This is a literary tactic that addresses much more than just book learning.  The pursuit of Wisdom becomes more than an option; more than a duty; and more than just a passing fascination.  It becomes a lifelong endeavor - - a constant & never-ending quest.  Wisdom is not just an inanimate object, she becomes the object of our affections and our dearest companion.  The language implies a “union”, not unlike marriage, that can bring rich blessings.  In another proverb (Prov.18:22), Solomon declares:  He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.  Finding a good mate (embracing matrimony) is one of the most important decisions we can ever make.

Back to Prov.3:13, How blessed is the man who finds WISDOM.  Without meaning to diminish the importance of a Christian wife or husband, WISDOM is the best mate.  At first glance it may sound silly, but making an early choice to be wed to the word of God is so important.  By this we are not promoting a life of celibacy.  Some may choose this option, but most will not.  I have often wondered how many marriages would be so much stronger, if both the husband and the wife had made an early-on decision (in the days of their youth) to first be married to the word of God.  Solomon proceeds to paint a picture of the superior value of WISDOM.  Prov.3:14-15 / its better than silver … better than fine gold … more precious that jewels; nothing you desire compares with her. 

In Prov.3:18, Solomon says of WISDOM - - She is a TREE OF LIFE to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast.  When you boil it all down, one central yearning that we all have deep within us is to be HAPPY in life.  This is the meaning of a blessed life.  Because “happiness” is often fleeting, the better word here would be the word, JOY-FILLED.  Who among us doesn't want to have a life full of genuine JOY?  Solomon expands on the favorable attributes of WISDOM, noting (Prov.3:21f) - - My son, let them not depart from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul, and adornment to your neck.  Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble.  When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down your sleep will be sweet...For the Lord will be your confidence...

Never before, in the history of the world, has the Word of God been more accessible.  There are hardcopies everywhere.  It is on your desktop and on your laptop.  It is constantly in your hand (you know, that smartphone that seldom leaves your grasp).  From a technological stand point, your generation could well be the most read of any.  If availability was the determining factor, our current generation of young people could out-distance every prior generation in their diligent pursuit of the word of God.  You have at you disposal tools that were previously unimaginable.  

The question comes down to this:  Will you avail yourselves to that which is at your very fingertips?  Some of you are excelling?  You are ingesting and digesting the word of God - - reading the Bible daily; studying the Word; and trying to be a sincere doer of the Word.  You're posting the Word & sharing the Word.  A few of you are honest-to-goodness trailblazers in this regard, putting some of us older folks to shame.  Yet others of you are lagging behind in your pursuit of God's Wisdom.  Your performance in digging into God's Word is lackluster at best and not at all what your are capable of accomplishing … and you need to repent.  I say this to you in a way that I would at a challenging campfire devotional.  I'm being very frank and candid.  There is not a smidgen of fuzziness or obfuscation in what I am saying.   The question is two-fold:  ARE YOU LISTENING? and ARE YOU GOING TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE WORD?  All of us, young and old, can lament the restrictions of the last few months and wallow in self-pity or we can use these “abnormal times” to roll up our sleeves and dive into the Word of God like never before.  This downtime can be a real serendipity, helping us become more Biblically-literate than we've ever been. 

  Dear Heavenly Father,  How grateful we are for Your provision of the wisdom from above. As we long to hunger and thirst after righteousness, help us to realize that this doesn't come without a deep devotion to the sacred writings.  We, who are older, are so thankful for the young ones among us.  We pray for them in particular that they might continue to cultivate an earnest love for Your holy Word.  In a world full of distractions, grant them a yearning to be wed to the Word.  Be with our Camp 2:52 entourage - - especially as they bemoan the cancellation of this week's retreat.  Through Jesus, The Word en-fleshed, we pray.  Amen