ONLY ONE TREE AWAY

FROM JESUS

He wasn’t sure that he should, but the nagging pain in his heart urged him onward. The raucous crowd pressed closely together, nearly smothering his diminutive frame. Spectacular stories had preceded the man whose presence was announced by the unsolicited testimonies of those on the perimeter of his following. Now, the slight little tax collector, with the cavernous empty place in his soul, had come to discover for himself if the stories were really true. If only he could find a way to see above the murmuring multitude.

For years, he had retained a more than substantial share of the duties exacted by Romans from the Jews. Cunning numbers crunching and a deft intellect had allowed him to accumulate a sizable fortune. His bank account was large, his moneybag overflowing. Yet with all this gain, he still felt worthless, small, insignificant.

Zacchaeus may have assumed that the more considerable his financial portfolio, the bigger he would become in the eyes of others. But alas, over-burdening his people with excessive taxes had never allowed the wee little man to become one inch taller in his own eyes…then, Jesus came to town.

A Sycamore became the tiny dwarf’s means to see Him. Shimmying up the slick flaking bark, grabbing hold of every limb he could reach, the little guy struggled to reach a vantage point where he could watch for the Master. He felt taller already, just being a part of the crowd surrounding Jesus. The profiteer climbed up to see Him, then, climbed down to touch Him.

Sin made him reluctant to approach the Savior. But, desperation overwhelmed his reticence. He was uncontrollably compelled to follow the cry of his heart. Jesus saw him, called him, walked home with him.

One tree in Eden held the fruit of death; another held the fruit of life. There were three trees on Calvary’s brow, one held death; one held a repentant thief, the other held life. One tree in Zacchaeus’ hometown gave the little man a bird’s-eye view of the Messiah. It seems that trees play a vital role in the salvation of men.

Even a tax collector was only one tree from the Savior. At Calvary, one tree would become the vantage point from which salvation would present itself to the whole world. Sometimes, a tree is all that stands between a man and his creator. Sometimes, a tree is the means to an end. Sometimes, to touch a savior, a man has to find a tree to hang his own flesh upon. Zacchaeus was high in a Sycamore, in view of all. He was done with hiding in the shadows and concealing his deceptive ways behind a façade of duplicity. He was ready to confess who he really was, if it meant he could have Jesus Christ.

The Sycamore at once became both his crucifixion and his salvation. Zacchaeus would announce to the whole city that “he” had come to ask forgiveness from Jesus, the Savior. He would not, could not conceal himself standing on the shoulders of the Sycamore. He was ready to confess, to reveal all. He was prepared to bare his soul, confess his sins and make honest restitution for his greedy monetary malfeasance.

TREES

Trees can only reveal; they cannot conceal. Earth’s first couple tried to hide among the trees of Eden, but God easily found them out. They attempted a “cover-up” behind a façade of fig leaves. God saw right through it. Trees can only reveal; they cannot conceal.

The heathen taught God’s people that the “groves” of trees would conceal them from the all-seeing eyes of Jehovah. They came to believe that the sensuous worship of Baal and Astarte would escape detection, as long as they had the trees of the groves to hide them. But alas, when God’s prophets saw the groves in the high places, their very presence revealed their purpose. When the prophets saw the care and attention given to the groves, they automatically knew what was going on. Trees can only reveal; they cannot conceal.

Zacchaeus climbed a Sycamore tree to see Jesus. The tree presented three immediate revelations:

1) It revealed the Savior to Zacchaeus;

2) It revealed Zacchaeus to the Savior, and

3) It revealed Zacchaeus’ willingness to admit to the world that he needed Jesus in his life.

Trees can only “REVEAL” they cannot “CONCEAL.”

Three Crosses stood atop Calvary. On one the world’s Savior was revealed; on another a sinner bound for a devil’s hell was revealed; on the third cross, a repentant thief was forgiven and allowed entrance into Paradise. The Trees on Calvary “Revealed” the true identities of the crucified…they could not “Conceal.”

A sinner sits quietly, unobtrusively incognito on a church pew. He is harbored safely, anonymously within the security of the crowd. He doesn’t stand out. There are too many others around for him to be noticed. He is comfortable in the knowledge that no one can see the real man. His secrets are held safely within the confines of his own conscience.

But, that conscience has been bothering him lately. He realizes his thoughts about himself, his life, his goals, are not in harmony with God. He is growing weary of the inner battle between right and wrong that rages within his soul. The time for a change has come, but he’s uncertain of what he should do. The answer lies in a tree.

Watch Zacchaeus as he laboriously strains every muscle to lift himself up to see Jesus. See him as he expends all his physical energy to catch a glimpse of the Savior, while praying that the Savior briefly looks his way. Observe the little man, who finally realized just how small he really was; who ultimately understood that wealth does not a happy man make. Feel his pain as he lays his whole life open for the entire town to see. Look closely as he ascends to a place of commitment, far above the din and roar of his old life, and into the quiet faith of a new life in Jesus Christ.

Trees can only reveal; they cannot conceal. When you make that monumental, judicious final decision to follow Christ, that decision will ultimately lead to an encounter with a tree. It will take you to a place of revelation, and from that vantage point, your life will be revealed to the Savior, and He will be revealed to you.

Are you desperate for the Lord’s touch? Has it been too long since His last visit to your house? Then you must reach for Him in worshipful prayer, and when He passes by, rush to His side and compel Him to walk with you. He’s never too far from each of us, just one crowd, one prayer, one Calvary, “one tree” away.

Luke 19:4 “ And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.”

Luke 19:5 “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.”