How to Climb a Tree

I love a good metaphor. When I was a kid, I used to spend whole afternoons climbing trees. Looking back, I realize that those childhood adventures give us a vivid picture of how to approach spiritual truth.

Think of it like this: Jesus is the trunk. Every doctrine and insight is a branch. Some branches are thick and strong — they can hold you up with no problem. Others are thin and fragile — you’ve got to be careful with them. The key is learning to tell the difference. Hold onto multiple supports. Don’t carry yourself — or anyone else — out where the limb is going to snap.

The Tree of Truth: Weightier Matters

When Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, He reminded us that not all truths carry the same weight. He said, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees... ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith.” (Matthew 23:23–24)

That tells me something important: there are foundational truths that we must hold tightly. Then there are secondary truths that, while true, must be handled with care.

The Trunk and the Foundation: Christ Our Bedrock

When Peter declared, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” Jesus said that confession was the rock on which He would build His church. And Paul reminds us, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 3:11)

That’s the heart of it. Jesus as Savior is the core of our faith. Every other teaching must be built on Him — and built carefully.

Build Carefully: Another Layer of Truth

Hebrews tells us, “Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection...” (Hebrews 6:1–2). We don’t just stay on the ground — we climb. But as we climb, we need to keep our priorities straight. Spiritually, we can hold more than one truth at a time. And yes, we should press forward in sanctification. But pressing forward never gives us permission to abandon the foundation or overload a thin branch.

A Boy, a Broken Arm, and a Lesson

Let me tell you a story from when I was eleven. One day I jumped from a big tree onto a smaller trunk and landed on a tiny branch. It couldn’t hold me. The branch snapped, I fell, and I broke my arm.

That experience taught me something about spiritual life:

• Thick branches — the core doctrines — can bear more weight.
• Thin branches — the more peripheral teachings — require extra care.
• And when you must go out on a slim limb, you’d better have multiple points of contact. Don’t go alone.

It’s the same when we share our faith. Don’t drag someone else out onto the thin branches with you. What you’ve worked out over years might be too much for someone who’s new or fragile in faith.

Practical Guidance for Climbing the Tree of Truth

So how do we climb wisely? Here are a few things I’ve learned:

• Prioritize the trunk. Keep Jesus at the center. His life, His death, His resurrection — that’s the foundation.
• Emphasize present truth. Share the doctrines that unite us and prepare us for His coming — things like the sanctuary, the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
• Be cautious on outer limbs. When you study difficult or less central ideas, move slowly. Hold on to multiple supports. Don’t push others out there too soon.
• Show humility with hard passages. If you can’t reconcile something right now, put it on the shelf. God will give clarity in time.
• Proclaim the sure things boldly. There are truths the Bible places front and center that we can declare with confidence — like the everlasting gospel in Revelation 14: “Fear God, and give glory to Him... and worship Him that made heaven and earth.”

Conclusion: Stay Rooted, Finish the Work

So climb the tree of truth. But keep your weight on the branches that can bear it. Build carefully on the foundation of Jesus Christ. Study deeply, yes — but don’t let speculative ideas pull you, or others, away from the central mission.

Our goal is simple: to finish the work, to lift up Christ, and to prepare hearts for His return.