383. Utopian Paradise
Micah 4:4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.
The image of every man under his vine and under his fig tree is often used as a symbolic scene of a utopian paradise. It defines peace, prosperity and security. This is the dream of every person: everything we need for luxury, ease and comfort is provided for us. This promise is the ideal of heaven, although each of us has his or her own dream about what paradise will be like. Heaven may vary according to our own desires and experiences, but it is generally understood what heaven and the eternal Paradise will be like. This dream is born into us and cannot easily be removed. Eternity is in the heart of every human. We innately know it must be there, but we don’t know where it is or how to get there.
This is what the Biblical revelation is for: to show the eyes of faith what we can’t see now and can’t see yet. The Bible reveals where it is and what it is, and the Gospel reveals how to get there (there is only one Way, one Truth, and one Life). Of course, the vine and fig tree are symbolic of spiritual truth and reality, and it is not meant to be taken literally, although for some it is an appealing image. This picture of heaven is both spiritually present now, though invisible, and it is also physically present in the eternal future. It is already spiritually in the heart by faith and not yet physically in heaven.
For now, heaven is in the heart of the believer since God Himself, the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns in the human spirit. This spiritual truth needs to be enjoyed by faith in Christ every day, for it is true, even when we don’t feel it.
The other part of this promise is that “none shall make them afraid.” There will be no spiritual enemies that can win the victory over us. They may frighten us, scare us, make us afraid, and cause worry and anxiety, but they have no power over us. Jesus has already overcome and won the victory. We will not be afraid when we turn to the Lord and take refuge in His presence by believing the gospel. The promise is: be secure and live well.