“To those who win the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the Garden of God.” Revelation 2:7b, GNT

 

Is it still worth believing in God? We know that in our technologically advanced age with all its scientific revelations, many people laugh at us for being so dumb to still believe in what they see as religious myths.

 

In a letter to a newspaper, I read that the writer sees churches as businesses that exist only to make money. The writer of the letter was tired of the articles about religion that appeared in newspapers and called it “church nonsense” that has no place in the news of the day anymore. Another letter writer talks scornfully of our faith in a Holy Scripture where donkeys and snakes have the ability of speech, and dead people can raise from their graves and go visiting in town. Why, then, do you and I still believe? It is because of our love for God our Father and Jesus our Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit, our Comforter.

 

In the letters to the seven churches, Jesus praised them, but also pointed out some problems. However, this is not all he did. He also gave everyone who held fast onto their first love, some wonderful promises. Please keep in mind that the promise to each church is actually a promise to all churches. After his call to the church in Ephesus to repent, he gave them the following promise: “To those who win the victory I will give the right to eat the fruit of the tree of life that grows in the Garden of God”.

 

According to the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, they were banned from paradise to prevent them eating from the tree of life. Genesis 3:22 “Now the man has become like one of us and has knowledge of what is good and what is bad. He must not be allowed to take fruit from the tree that gives life, eat it, and live for ever.” ” But in the new dispensation, Jesus paid the price to make eternal life possible. The gate to paradise is standing open again.

 

The promise to Smirna can be linked to the above: “Those who win the victory will not be hurt by the second death.” (Revelation 2:11) God will not punish us. In Jesus, we are free. Yes! It is still worth believing.

Prayer: We thank you for loving us so much that you gave us access to the tree of life again, through Jesus who conquered death. Amen