417. Our own Vine and Fig Tree
Zechariah 3:10 In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree.
Living “under the vine and under the fig tree” is a common metaphor for a utopian paradise, in which fertility and abundance is plentiful and ready at hand. It pictures a return to the Paradise of Eden. It is an earthly image of a heavenly reality. This promise will come true at the Second Coming of Christ after the resurrection of all flesh and the Judgment Day. This promise of such an existence came true in the spirit when Jesus announced the Kingdom of God. This kingdom came to earth in the person of the Son of God becoming human and the Holy Spirit entering believing hearts.
Spiritually, believers live in such a spiritual world. The riches of heaven are present and real and at hand for us. We enjoy them as if we were relaxing under our own vines and fig trees. All we need to do is reach up and take hold of the gifts and blessings and riches of God’s abundant mercy and amazing grace. We need the Spirit to grant us the eyes of faith to see where we are living; we live in a perfect environment in which we thrive. Faith is the substance of the things not seen. The spiritual blessings and abundance we have received by receiving Christ is far greater than we are able to believe. For instance, we don’t see the forgiveness of sins and we do not often feel it; but it is nevertheless real and powerful, solid and substantive. Faith grabs the fruit of the vines and trees and enjoys the taste and smell and feel of the spiritual kingdom.
How rich and full is the spiritual life of God living within us! The gospel reveals this wonderful kingdom to us when we receive it with faith. It does not take wild imaginings to see the beauty, nor does it take suspension of disbelief to accept the truth, nor does it take pretending to play the game, nor does it take trying to see the unseen to enjoy the blessings. Faith just sees.