In the Book of Genesis, we learn that on Day Three, the waters of chaos were gathered under Heaven so that the Earth would appear (Gen. 1:9). God called the dry land eres, which means “the land or earth.”[1] The Earth (or the land) is a place designed to be suitable for human habitation. However, the Earth is more than geography; it also includes the idea of how the Creator designed us to live and relate to each other. The waters of chaos were confined into bodies of water called Seas (yam[2]). God declared that it was “good” to confine and place boundaries around the waters of chaos (Gen 1:10).
After separating the seas from the land, God declared that the Earth should be exceedingly fruitful (Gen. 1:11), and the Earth “produced vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their kind, and trees bearing fruit with seed in them according to their kind, and God saw that it was good” (Gen. 1:12). Fruitfulness is a major theme of the Bible from beginning to end. The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery states, “Abundant fruit is symbolic of the richness and creativity of God.”[3] The superiority of the Promised Land was repeatedly described as a place of abundant fruitfulness (Ex. 3:8; Num.12:27; Deut. 8:8). It is God’s will that humans live in a place of fantastic fruitfulness. However, we learn through the unfolding of Scripture that fruitfulness is connected to and dependent upon our relationship with God. The Israelites were warned that if disobedient to God, “Your strength will be consumed uselessly, for your land will not yield its produce, and the trees of the land will not yield their fruit” (Lev. 26:20). There is a connection between our spiritual life and the physical reality around us.
Conversely, the Israelites were promised special blessing if obedient: “And He will love you, bless you, and make you numerous; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain, your new wine, and your oil, the newborn of your cattle, and the offspring of your flock, in the land which He swore to your forefathers to give you” (Deut. 7:13).
The Psalmists often connected the idea of fruitfulness to one’s spiritual life. Special blessing is promised to the one who delights in the law of the Lord and who mediates upon His law day and night (Ps. 1:2). “He will be like a tree 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” (Ps.1:3). Psalm 92:12 states that “[t]he righteous person will flourish like the palm tree; [h]e will grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, [t]hey will flourish in the courtyards of our God. They will still yield fruit in advanced age.” Proverbs 11:30states, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.”
The theme of fruitfulness is reiterated in the New Testament. Jesus taught, “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit” (Matt. 7:18). Of great significance, Jesus also taught, “I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The Spiritual Life is the key. We must maximize our time in fellowship with God to produce good fruit. We can accomplish nothing of lasting value apart from Him. Jesus taught and demonstrated a new way of living, which produces lasting fruitfulness. As the Apostle Paul explained, we live “in order that we might bear fruit for God” (Rom. 7:4). Sadly, many are intimidated by such an idea because they do not understand that His yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt. 11:30).
Paul explained that when we walk by the Spirit, the Spirit within us (believers) produces some very unique fruit like “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, [and] self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). However, things like lust, anger, hate, covetousness, and self-righteousness will interfere with the Spirit’s production of fruit in our lives. Instead, we will produce bad fruit. This will negatively affect our lives both in this world and the next.
In the Book of Revelation, John said, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea” (Rev. 21:1). This is not speaking of a future time when there are no longer great bodies of water on Planet Earth. John is speaking metaphorically of a time when there are no longer waters of chaos causing instability and confusion. In fact, since the First Advent of Christ, this new reality is already beginning to happen. Jesus Christ is the archetype of how humans are required to live. He showed us the pattern of walking by the Spirit, wherein the Word is a light to our feet, and living in a way that is pleasing to God, the Father. At His return and upon receiving our resurrection bodies, we will all live in perfect harmony with God and each other.
The New Jerusalem is also described as a place of abundant fruitfulness. In the New Jerusalem, a river of the water of life proceeds from beneath the throne of God. (Rev. 22:1-2) “On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will longer be any curse; and the throne of God and the Lamb of God will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him” (Rev. 22:2-3). When all serve God and the Lamb, there will be order, peace, and maximum fruitfulness. The worship of God brings order, peace, and fruitfulness to the human soul.
[1] “H776 – ‘ereṣ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 23 Jul, 2021. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h776/nasb20/wlc/0-1/>.
[2] “H3220 – yām – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 23 Jul, 2021. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h3220/nasb20/wlc/0-1/>.
[3] “Fruit.” Dictionary of Biblical Imagery, edited by Leland Ryken, et al, InterVarsity Press, 1998.
