Two Trees and My Stream of Consciousness
Most have heard the cliché phrase "I’m a lover not a fighter". Well, as sexy and Don Juan as that sounds, I am not sure it applies to me. I would better describe myself as "a talker not a writer". I have never written thoughts for public consumption. What I have written in my journal I rarely go back and read. For me, writing is a form of praying in the Spirit. The words come from the outpouring of truth, grace, and revelation on my heart. It is very much a stream of consciousness type of writing. But, now I have come to write, hopefully with some coherence.
The Lord has been revealing a lot of new concepts me lately. One idea that has come up several times is the two trees in the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In "The Life Giving Church" Ted Haggard writes, "The choice offered to Eve is the same choice we are offered today. We can choose to live according to the knowledge of good and evil, maintaining a form of godliness and righteousness (but one that will ultimately leave us cold and dark), or we can choose to eat from the tree of life and discover godliness and righteousness naturally through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ." This thought causes me to pause and examine my motives for writing publicly. Am I writing to pontificate on lofty ideas to present a form of godliness and righteousness, or to share how the Spirit is revealing to me the path to holiness in hopes that it will bring encouragement to others? I am trusting through prayer that the Spirit will speak the truth and that God alone will be glorified.
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). His way is difficult, but through Him we obtain true life. It is a narrow path to which we are called to walk. I am used to walking on narrow paths. Stephanie and I have done a lot of hiking over the past few years, and have found that the path is usually only several inches wide. It is often strewn with rocks and roots leading us up, down, and around through the woods. Hiking is different from taking a walk through the neighborhood, and takes some getting used to, but I think we have gotten pretty decent at it. So why is walking the narrow path of Christ so difficult for us? It is because true life comes not by our power but through the power of Christ. We must be like Him to become "holy as the Father is holy" (1 Peter 1:15). As we step further into the Light of the World, the more our depravity is exposed. Jesus said that even the hidden things will be revealed (Matthew 10:26). The closer I get to God, the more my sin becomes apparent. I am not just talking about stealing a pencil off of the supply cart in third grade. I am talking about continuous revelation and repentance. It is like a t-shirt I saw recently, "I am the wretch the song is talking about." I am really bad at walking this narrow path! Two eyes are not near enough to cover the gougings needed to quell my lustful thoughts in day. I do not have enough hands to cut off for the times they cause me to sin. Nor do I have enough tongues to cut out to cover the lies that I use try to make me look better. I have too many idols and covet too many possessions that I think will make me a better person. Oh, the depth of my sin! How much greater is the light, though, that consumes all darkness and the blood that covers the sins of man. Thanks be to God!
Becoming holy is the revelation of the depth of our sinfulness. It is an examination of those things, great and small, that we have hidden in our hearts. It is repentance, turning from the ways we have lived that lead to destruction to the ways of Christ that lead to life. Scripture says that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1) and the Truth (John 14:6). Jesus said in John 17:17, "Sanctify them in truth; your word is truth." It is turning to the Word, Jesus, and scripture to learn the truth and live by it. This is where it can get painful. This is where conviction comes. Followers of Christ must embrace the truth of Scripture, casting off those things that lead us not by the Spirit but the flesh. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). As we embrace the Truth and seek atonement for our sin, we must also forgive the sins of others against us so that we may be forgiven (Luke 6:37). Jesus said forgive them 490 times (Matthew 18:22)! Indeed, the path is narrow and the way is hard. It is difficult for the mature and immature believer alike and it is foolishness to those who reject the Truth and are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Okay, so this does not sound like sunny days and blue skies! But, Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). The grace is abundant that carries us through the refining fire. Through the blood shed on the cross, we are cleansed of our impurities. The path to holiness is not one taken by our own power. We are empowered by grace and led by the Holy Spirit.
As we delight in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). His desires become our desires. His desire expressed through Paul in Romans 12 is that we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds, becoming holy that we may know the will of the Father. Seeking the renewed mind, we must choose which tree we will dwell in. In Genesis 2, God commanded Adam to eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. With full access to the full provision of the garden, including the Tree of Life, they choose to eat of the forbidden tree, thus bringing sin into the world. It also brought forth self reliance. No longer did man wholly rely on God for provision. Man now chased after desires of the mind and flesh. Will we chose to perpetrate a form of godliness and righteousness by relying solely on our intellect and gaining knowledge for our own edification? Or, will our minds be renewed to dwell in the Tree of Life, where we use the knowledge and wisdom given to us to give life to those around us? Let us seek to "dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives to gaze upon His beauty and to meditate in His temple (Psalm 27:4). As we dwell with Him and meditate in His temple, which dwells in holiness, our knowledge of and about Him becomes a palpable reality. We move to living and abiding in the Tree of Life, which is where we are most effective in sharing life, that is, Jesus, with the world. As we abide in the True Vine, the Life, He will dwell in us and we will produce much fruit (John 15:4). By this the Father is glorified, that we bear much fruit proving to be His disciples (John 15:8).
The Lord has been revealing a lot of new concepts me lately. One idea that has come up several times is the two trees in the Garden of Eden, the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. In "The Life Giving Church" Ted Haggard writes, "The choice offered to Eve is the same choice we are offered today. We can choose to live according to the knowledge of good and evil, maintaining a form of godliness and righteousness (but one that will ultimately leave us cold and dark), or we can choose to eat from the tree of life and discover godliness and righteousness naturally through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ." This thought causes me to pause and examine my motives for writing publicly. Am I writing to pontificate on lofty ideas to present a form of godliness and righteousness, or to share how the Spirit is revealing to me the path to holiness in hopes that it will bring encouragement to others? I am trusting through prayer that the Spirit will speak the truth and that God alone will be glorified.
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:13-14). Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). His way is difficult, but through Him we obtain true life. It is a narrow path to which we are called to walk. I am used to walking on narrow paths. Stephanie and I have done a lot of hiking over the past few years, and have found that the path is usually only several inches wide. It is often strewn with rocks and roots leading us up, down, and around through the woods. Hiking is different from taking a walk through the neighborhood, and takes some getting used to, but I think we have gotten pretty decent at it. So why is walking the narrow path of Christ so difficult for us? It is because true life comes not by our power but through the power of Christ. We must be like Him to become "holy as the Father is holy" (1 Peter 1:15). As we step further into the Light of the World, the more our depravity is exposed. Jesus said that even the hidden things will be revealed (Matthew 10:26). The closer I get to God, the more my sin becomes apparent. I am not just talking about stealing a pencil off of the supply cart in third grade. I am talking about continuous revelation and repentance. It is like a t-shirt I saw recently, "I am the wretch the song is talking about." I am really bad at walking this narrow path! Two eyes are not near enough to cover the gougings needed to quell my lustful thoughts in day. I do not have enough hands to cut off for the times they cause me to sin. Nor do I have enough tongues to cut out to cover the lies that I use try to make me look better. I have too many idols and covet too many possessions that I think will make me a better person. Oh, the depth of my sin! How much greater is the light, though, that consumes all darkness and the blood that covers the sins of man. Thanks be to God!
Becoming holy is the revelation of the depth of our sinfulness. It is an examination of those things, great and small, that we have hidden in our hearts. It is repentance, turning from the ways we have lived that lead to destruction to the ways of Christ that lead to life. Scripture says that Jesus is the Word (John 1:1) and the Truth (John 14:6). Jesus said in John 17:17, "Sanctify them in truth; your word is truth." It is turning to the Word, Jesus, and scripture to learn the truth and live by it. This is where it can get painful. This is where conviction comes. Followers of Christ must embrace the truth of Scripture, casting off those things that lead us not by the Spirit but the flesh. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). As we embrace the Truth and seek atonement for our sin, we must also forgive the sins of others against us so that we may be forgiven (Luke 6:37). Jesus said forgive them 490 times (Matthew 18:22)! Indeed, the path is narrow and the way is hard. It is difficult for the mature and immature believer alike and it is foolishness to those who reject the Truth and are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Okay, so this does not sound like sunny days and blue skies! But, Jesus says, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30). The grace is abundant that carries us through the refining fire. Through the blood shed on the cross, we are cleansed of our impurities. The path to holiness is not one taken by our own power. We are empowered by grace and led by the Holy Spirit.
As we delight in the Lord, He gives us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4). His desires become our desires. His desire expressed through Paul in Romans 12 is that we will be transformed by the renewing of our minds, becoming holy that we may know the will of the Father. Seeking the renewed mind, we must choose which tree we will dwell in. In Genesis 2, God commanded Adam to eat from any tree in the garden except the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. With full access to the full provision of the garden, including the Tree of Life, they choose to eat of the forbidden tree, thus bringing sin into the world. It also brought forth self reliance. No longer did man wholly rely on God for provision. Man now chased after desires of the mind and flesh. Will we chose to perpetrate a form of godliness and righteousness by relying solely on our intellect and gaining knowledge for our own edification? Or, will our minds be renewed to dwell in the Tree of Life, where we use the knowledge and wisdom given to us to give life to those around us? Let us seek to "dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives to gaze upon His beauty and to meditate in His temple (Psalm 27:4). As we dwell with Him and meditate in His temple, which dwells in holiness, our knowledge of and about Him becomes a palpable reality. We move to living and abiding in the Tree of Life, which is where we are most effective in sharing life, that is, Jesus, with the world. As we abide in the True Vine, the Life, He will dwell in us and we will produce much fruit (John 15:4). By this the Father is glorified, that we bear much fruit proving to be His disciples (John 15:8).
5 Comments:
Brian,
What a beautiful blog. You are a wonderful diciple and have truly glorified God.
And a voice from heaven said, this is my son whom I love; with him I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:17
It is really encouraging to hear about your experiences. It is definitely worth writing about if even just for that reason. God's been sort of showing me lately that even though it is necessary for us to be in touch with our sin and need for Him, it doesn't do us much good if we never get passed that into His grace.
I have a hard time doing that.
A couple of weeks ago at Harvest, I heard a sermon that is exactly what I needed at the time.
It was on the parable of the woman who washes Jesus feet with perfume. (Luke 7:36-47) The Pharisee thinks that if Jesus were really a prophet then he would know what kind of woman (a "sinner") this was washing his feet.
Jesus tells a parable basically saying that those of us who need the most forgiveness will be full of the most love and forgiveness for others. I think we should be more worried if we don't think we have a "sin problem" as Stephanie puts it than if we do.
Anyway, just some thoughts. I can't wait to see you guys this weekend. It looks like God is really preparing the both of you to witness for Him and have a great ministry. Its really beautiful to see.
I love that quote. Wow. I may have to snatch that for my own blog. The two trees... hmm....
See ya tomorrow!
Mary, that is one of my all-time favorite Bible STories about Jesus. It makes my stomach go all weak and mushy. I just want to cry and wash His feet myself.
hey mary,
i agree that we need to move into grace. the grace that enlightens us to our sin problem is the same grace that allows to rest in the confidence of Christ's love for us. i love 1 John 4:16-17. "So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgement, because as he is so also are we in this world."
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