What makes an Evergreen Christian?

"He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper."~ Psalms 1:3

The Psalmist says that the Lord's trees are all evergreens. But what makes an evergreen Christian?

In botany, an evergreen plant is a one that has leaves in all seasons. Deciduous plants, on the other hand, completely lose their foliage during the cold or dry season. Actually, the latin binomial term ascribed to evergreen trees, sempervirens (literally, "living forever") refers to the evergreen nature of the plant, e.g. Cupressus sempervirens (a cypress).

Owing to the botanical meaning, the term "evergreen" can refer metaphorically to something that is continuously renewed or is self-renewing. Note that the the Lord's tree is not a wild one, but 'a tree planted', chosen, considered as property, and secured from uprooting (Matthew 15:13) One man once commented that ' unlike evergreens in our country, they are all fruit bearers'.

Seek to be an evergreen tree. Wear the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Cherish the grace of love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. This is the fruit of the christian tree. Planted by the rivers of water, it always brings forth its fruit in due season.

He is not planted by the river of water but rather by the rivers of water. Even if one would fail, he has another. The rivers of pardon and the rivers of grace, the rivers of promise and the rivers of communion with Christ, are never failing sources of supply. Here lies the answer key to our question: What makes an evergreen Christian?

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