“Hey, come look—the tree fell!”, I exclaimed to my husband. We knew that tree was mostly dead three years ago, but had left it up, because one part still produced leaves and it had become a favorite place for birds to perch on the branches. We enjoyed seeing the birds and being their “rest stop” on the way to wherever.

Yeah, most of it looked desolate, but we’d chosen to focus on the beauty rather than the barrenness. Besides, it would be a lot of trouble to take down. Easier to leave it be(!).

Until it fell. Sometime during the night before, it had fallen silently, and if I hadn’t gone out in the yard after breakfast to let the dog out, who knows when we would’ve noticed? (I knew it had fallen silently because our bedroom window was directly above it, and I’m a light sleeper.).

Going straight over to examine the now-horizontal tree laying on our lawn, Trooper (our dog), sniffed, looked it over, and then looked up at me as if to say, “How did this happen?”

As if to answer him, my husband stepped onto the back steps and stated, “Looks like it finally rotted out.”

Indeed. I’d figured the same thing. At one time, long before we moved in seven years ago, that tree flourished, evidenced by a sturdy trunk, strong limbs, and leafy branches. By the time we came, it was already showing signs of decline, past the point of rescue. We watched it get barer and barer, until finally it “gave up the ghost” altogether, found on the ground by me.

We left it for a couple of days, not so much to pay our respects, but to take a picture and wait until my husband could haul it away.

It stands, or actually lies, as a parable for us humans to heed. “He who has ears to hear” and eyes to read—here are lessons we can learn from a tree that suddenly falls over, dead, for no apparent reason:

1. It’s not sudden. The process of rotting and dying occurred over a long period of time. While the actual fall was quick and “sudden”, the condition that led to it developed gradually. So it is with our hearts and lives, and consequences of sinful, harmful, thoughts, habits, etc.

“But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” Jas. 1:14-15

2. Rotting, by nature, happens from the inside out. As such, it stays invisible. No one knows it’s happening, not even the one experiencing it. That’s why it’s so dangerous. If that fallen tree could talk, it would likely quote 1 Cor. 10:12— “So if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”

3. By the time it does become visible, it’s often too late to reverse the devastating, often deadly effects of the rot. For us, those who allow their hearts to become hard—unyielding, stubborn, uncaring, closed to truth and the needs of those around them— will eventually reach the point of no return. Unable to let truth penetrate, unable to repent and change and receive healing, they will die of a hardened heart.

“’In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’”  Mat. 13:14-15

4. Outer beauty can be deceiving, especially when it’s covering up the truth of what’s inside.

Jesus exposed this when He publicly stated, “’Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.’” Mat. 23:27

Therefore, be willing and humble enough to examine our hearts—let the Holy Spirit speak to us, convict us, and work change in us so the inside matches the outside “face” we put on in public.

Likewise, don’t take others at face value either. Don’t be deceived by their outward manners, deeds, or appearance. Discern what’s on the inside—especially if we’re thinking of entering into any long-term relationship with them!

5. Guard our hearts so they don’t rot. Since we came along after the rot started in that poor tree, we have no idea what caused it. Climate? Insects? Disease? We had no way of guarding it after the fact. But we can protect our hearts from toxic environments, toxic influences that “eat away” at our souls like harmful insects, and toxic thought patterns that destroy our mental, spiritual, and emotional health.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” Prov. 4:23

6. If we catch rot beginning to set into our heart or that of someone we care about, act decisively to reverse it before it’s too late.

“Catch for us the …little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” Song of Sol. 2:15

While this verse comes in the context of relationships, it also applies to our hearts, since what’s in our hearts directly affects our relationships. It also shows how we can intervene in the lives of others, catching their “little foxes” before they ruin their lives and relationships.

7. Keep an eternal perspective. Nothing of this world lasts beyond this world. Some things, animals, plants, and people do last longer than others. But nothing except our soul, spirit, and relationship with the Lord and others with Him lasts forever. Not even “permanent” markers or “permed” hair!

With this in mind, “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” Col. 3:1-2

Ultimately, “If anyone builds on this foundation [Christ] using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work.” 1 Cor. 3:12-13

Thankfully none of us have to rot, now or for the rest of eternity, if we heed the parable of the rotted-out tree.