Secure from a regular drug-store a few dried leaves of the eucalyptus
tree which grows in California. Mount them on cardboard or hold them
up in a cluster so all the hearers may see them. Then open your Bible
and read Revelation 22:2, "and the leaves of the tree were for the
healing of the nations." This can be used as a text for this lesson.
This great tree is to remind the saved in heaven that there is no
sickness there, for the cure of the nations and the ages is under the
shade of the leaves of this healing tree. This tree with its healing
leaves is to remind us of Jesus. He is the great Tree of Life, "a
root out of the dry ground." His leaves of truth have been for the
healing of the nations. This collection of leaves which you now hold
in your hand has healing power. An oil is extracted direct from these
leaves which has great medicinal value.
Secure some of this oil from your regular druggist and ask him as to
how it is used by the local doctors.
In Africa the natives do much of their curing by leaves. They believe
that all diseases can be cured by leaves, and when a person is ill or
bitten by a serpent they hasten to the jungles and secure a healing
leaf. This was one of the most primitive means of healing known to
men.
There is another great Tree of Knowledge which we call the great
Bible. The leaves of this tree have long been healing the nations.
Every leaf has a healing word in it. As you say this hold up the
Bible with the other hand and read what some of the leaves say. Read
John 3:14 and 16. These words on the leaves of the Bible have healed
the millions. They have been and are for the healing of the nations
also, and thus a countless number have received the eternal Health of
Salvation and are now in heaven, well forevermore.
I remember my mother often told me a Civil War story which to my
little head was a wonder story. She said that once in this war a
soldier's life was spared because the enemy's bullet embedded itself
in the leaves of a New Testament he carried in his pocket. So the
leaves of the Bible saved his mortal life. Often the smaller birds
fly into the leaves of the trees for safety when the larger wild bird
seeks their life.
God's word is a mighty fortress and a shelter from the storm. Its
leaves of truth cover us and surround us, like a great wall of
chariots and armed horsemen, so we are safe forevermore.
If you have a cluster of leaves put a tag on each containing a verse
of Scripture which speaks of God's saving power. Pin these leaves
with their tags up on some background and explain that there are the
leaves from the Tree of the Bible, with sure healing in them for the
nations of the world.
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