Overcoming

A beautiful sunny Spring day today. I rode my bike in again and enjoyed being serenaded by birds along the way. Noticed a few more walkers out on the trail as well. But mostly I noticed the inside of my own thoughts this morning. Lots to think about these days. I find myself facing some new challenges that have redirected my thinking.

This morning I was studying some scriptural verses from the book of Revelations in the New Testament that all contain the phrase, "to him that overcometh". The promises that St. John the Divine records for those that overcome are intriguing. They include receiving sustenance ("manna"), access to the fruit of the "tree of life", the ability to translate or interpret ("white stone" aka "Urim and Thummin"), power over the nations, clothing and forgiveness ("white raiment"). Those who overcome are also told they will be come a pillar in the temple, have their name praised by the Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father and be granted a place to sit next to Christ the same as he has been granted a place next to His Father. Interesting symbols to consider this week following Easter. Interesting symbols to consider in a world of economic and moral uncertainty.

The "tree of life" symbol calls out other interesting concepts and words for thought. Not sure what species of tree John had in mind but in a later verse he indicates that the tree he was thinking of "bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations". I suppose much of this would be symbolic of the 12 sons of Israel referred to as the "House of Israel" and its future role as the covenant people. Given all the angst in the Middle East we could sure use a grove of those trees along with healing leaves by the bushel. Elsewhere the fruit of the tree of life is described as "desirable to make one happy".

As the leaves bud out, the grass starts to green and life returns to the prairie, I appreciate these sorts of symbolic promises. They provide good reasons to hang in there and overcome.