Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - The Survivor Tree - #4760

Friday, April 8, 2005

It was right after Christmas in 2004. Damian Barrett was on a beach in Thailand when suddenly he saw the tide go out so quickly that the bay was drained dry. Moments later, the ocean came roaring back with the monster tsunami that claimed so many lives across South Asia. A massive wave swept Damian into the shopping area and then into a store which was rapidly filling with water. Ultimately, he was carried to the ceiling by that rising water, and he was sure he was going to die there until the water actually pushed him through a gap in the roof. But any relief he felt didn't last long. Now he was being sucked out to sea where he would certainly stand no chance. And then the tide slammed him into the trunk of a large tree - a massive tree that could withstand even the force of the tsunami tide. As vehicles, appliances and all kinds of debris swept past him, he hung onto that tree with everything he had.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Survivor Tree."

That man lived to tell his story because of a tree that stood between him and certain death. For 2,000 years, a tree has been saving the lives of people who otherwise would have no chance. It has stood between them and the deadly tide of eternal judgment that awaits us on the other side of this life. For as Hebrews 9:26-27 , our word for today from the Word of God says: "Man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27 ).

The verses immediately before and after that unsettling verdict tell us about the tree that offers hope of life. One says of Jesus, "He has appeared ... to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself." Our sin is the tide that is sweeping us inexorably toward the judgment of a holy God. He made us to live for Him; we've lived for ourselves instead. Everything else He made obeys Him - except us. We are the rebels of the universe. Our rebellion carries an awful death penalty that the Bible calls hell. So imagine the power of those words, "He appeared to do away with sin." How? "By the sacrifice of Himself." That's the tree! It's that horrific cross where Jesus poured out His blood and His life to take the judgment you and I deserve.

The judgment for your sin fell on Jesus at the cross. That tree is what stands between you and the penalty of your sin no matter how good or religious you are, because no amount of our good can satisfy a holy God or pay a death penalty. All our spiritual efforts are no match for the size of that wave of God's judgment.

So our only hope is clinging to the tree where God's judgment fell on His Son. Or, more importantly, to cling to the One who died on that tree. Which means abandoning all other hopes - our pride, our religion, our self-reliance - and realizing we are as desperate and helpless as a man being swept out to sea, and then clinging to the One whose death on that tree for us is literally our only hope - your only hope. Have you ever told Him that? Have you ever said, "Jesus, I'm lost without You. I have no hope without You. But I'm ready to turn from my sin and hold onto You with all the faith I've got." If you've never done that, you're still facing the judgment for your sin. If you'll do it today, your sin will be forgiven and your hell cancelled.

If we were in the same place right now, I'd give you a little booklet I wrote called Yours For Life. It actually walks you through how to begin this life-saving relationship with Jesus. I want to send it to you, if you'll just let me know you want it.

An old hymn puts it this way: "Nothing in my hand I bring. Simply to Your cross I cling." I pray that that will be you today.