East Union Baptist Church

LIFE is where our students are headed at EUBC

Question: Why A Tree?

In scripture the tree and life are connected several times. There was a tree of life in the garden with Adam and Eve (Gen. 2:9, 3:22). The book of Proverbs makes much of the phrase "tree of life" (Prov. 3, 11, 13, 15), and again in Revelation the tree of life becomes a central piece of God's Kingdom (Rev. 2:7; 22). However, the most pressing reason why a tree was used is because it was where our Lord and Savior bought new life for all of us.

Love:

We believe love is central to every relationship one has or will have. It should be the characterizing mark of our interaction with parents, siblings, friends, those we minister to, brothers and sisters in Christ, and with Jesus. This does not mean lip-service love, but a 24/7- 1 Corinthians 13 type of love!

Identity:

This world is full of people searching for an identity they can call their own, but instead of being original we have a planet full of copy-cats. However, believers are new creations in Christ (2 Cor. 5:16-18), thus our identity is in Him who saved us. We are no longer children of darkness and slaves to sin, but children of light. So, our identity is found in who we are as God's children.

Friendship:

The old saying you have to be a friend to have a friend is so true. Countless people roam this life with nothing more than acquaintances by their side. What we desire out of our friendships is the type David and Jonathan had. More than that, we want these friendships to revolve around Christ and accountability. Nothing surface will do for us, we desire deep, long-lasting, mature friendships, the type of bonds that will see us through the struggles of life.

Eternity:

This is the goal, or rather the places we want to experience the previous three. Take for instance this statement:

What images come to mind when you think of Heaven? Do you think of a mode of life that is exciting and fulfilling? Or do the words of the epitaph of one dear soul come nearer to hitting the mark?

Weep not for me, friend, tho' death do us sever, I am going to do nothing forever and ever.

Many believers have such a pale and stale view of eternity, what we believe is that eternity is going to be where real LIFE begins. The life with live in during this existence pales in comparison to what is prepared for those who love Him in the LIFe that is to come. Thus, that is our goal and prize and something we long for every day.