A Firmly Planted Tree

How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

      What is so great about being a tree planted firmly by streams of water? First, this tree always has the sustenance it needs to survive and thrive. Second, this tree always produces fruit to maturity. Third, this tree always grows.

      Tonight we will celebrate the New Year. As we do, each of us will realize 2006 is gone and we can do nothing more with it. 2006 and all our actions within it are firmly locked in the pages of history and cannot possibly be changed, neither for the better or (thankfully) the worse. We will recount what we have accomplished this year, how we have grown, where we have been.

      We will also look into the New Year. What a wonderful feeling that is; able to look at an expanse of time with no mistakes in it yet. We can do nothing about 2006, but we can do things about 2007.

      As you look into 2007, let me encourage you to use Psalm 1:1-3 as a word picture of what your year will be like. Strive to be a tree planted firmly by the waters, constantly nourished, continually bearing fruit and always growing.

      There is only one way to accomplish this. We have to stay off or remove ourselves from the counsel, path and seat of the sinful. We are to be different from the world (Romans 12:1-2), which means we will not follow the same counsel, walk the same roads or sit in the same places.

      Instead, we must delight in the law of the Lord, meditating upon it day and night. We must not reserve Sunday classes and assemblies as our Bible study time. Instead, we must dig deep in the wells of God’s word continually. Paul wrote Timothy about being constantly nourished in the words of faith and the sound teaching in I Timothy 4:6.

      I once heard about a sign hanging in landscaper’s office. It read, “The best time to plant a tree is 25 years ago. The second best is right now.” Hopefully, you planted your tree years ago and have been growing it all that time. If not, don’t spend 2007 eat up with guilt over wasted time. Plant your tree today and start growing it this year. You will be amazed how far you will grow by the end of the year. Keep the faith and pass the word along in 2007.

Edwin L. Crozier