Gods of Lifeless Wood and Stone

The city of Ephesus was famous for housing one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Temple of Artemis, an ostentatious site dedicated to the Roman goddess Diana, goddess of fertility and, hence, the ultimate mother-goddess. Her prized statue within the temple was made of cedar wood, and she was worshiped the world over (Acts 19:27).

The apostle Paul had his own experience at Ephesus with Diana’s fanatical mob of devotees, who were incited to attack him for preaching that their “goddess” was only an idol “made with hands” (v. 26).

The church was in the heart of paganism, but in the culmination of Christ’s letter, we are reminded that life is not found in some supposed mother-goddess, “the work of men’s hands—wood and stone” (Isaiah 37:19)—but in the One who is the true Life-giver, God.

God created our world, and He will recreate it anew for all those who overcome these earthly counterfeits. Just as in the garden of Eden, God will again place “the tree of life … in the midst of” (Genesis 2:9) the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:2). But this time, there will be no cherubim to keep mankind away (Genesis 3:24). No, for those who will have gained the victory, God will freely give them the fruits of this tree, the symbol of eternal life.

Do you see the difference between the Temple of Artemis and the tree of life? It is not the tree as an object that is worshiped but the One who gave the tree. He is the source of eternal life: Jesus, for “in Him was life” (John 1:4).

Jesus ended His letter to each church using an expression He often did during His time on Earth: “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (See also Matthew 11:15; 13:9, 43; Luke 14:35.) In so doing, Christ did not refer to mere passive listening but to a spiritual submission to the Holy Spirit. This is the pathway one is to walk in order to overcome: surrender.

Lord Jesus, let not my eyes stray from You in Your heavenly temple that I may one day soon partake of the fruit of eternal life.

For Further Study: Psalm 16:11; Proverbs 3:13, 18–20; 11:30

Key Bible Texts

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7 KJV)