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Wednesday,
September 10, 2008
A Wholesome Tree
Proverbs 15:3-4 The eyes of the LORD are
in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (4) A wholesome tongue is
a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit. (KJV)
One of the definitions of wholesome is ‘yielding’;
something that would be yielding and bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit,
while anything else is dead and unable to produce. The tongue is an
extension of our heart; so whatever we allow into it is what will be coming
out of our mouth. When I think of a wholesome tree I think of something
green, budding, and bringing forth fruit bountifully; something watered and
rooted into a life giving source. Christians should be in the same shape
spiritually; bearing the fruit of the Spirit so that when someone comes
along seeking it they will find it in abundance.
Colossians 3:1-5 If ye then be risen with
Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the
right hand of God. (2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on
the earth. (3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (4)
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with
him in glory. (KJV)
The tree of life, our source of life is
found in Christ; so the more rooted and grounded you become in Him the less
likely you will partake of that forbidden stuff, all those cheap imitations
that promise liberty but deliver corruption. All these cheap imitations,
things that appeal to the flesh and look so good to the outward, is not a
healthy diet to partake of; so that instead of being wholesome and strong
in the Lord it makes one weak and ineffective, without fruit or substance.
Keep in mind this tree of life is spiritual in nature, and so are those
that partake of it as well.
John 11:25-27 Jesus said unto her, I am
the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live: (26) And whosoever liveth and believeth in me
shall never die. Believest thou this? (27) She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I
believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into
the world. (KJV)
The whole reason our Lord came and paid
the price for mankind is so that they could have access to and partake of
the tree of life again, and not be in bondage to this fallen world. Many
Christians start out just like Adam and Eve, walking with God for a season
and then fall back to the ways of this world because they thought they
could perfect their life by the flesh and its carnal thinking. We were all
dead and separated from the life of God by sin, as described in the above
verses now having access to a life giving source from above. So which tree
are you partaking of today and what has the most influence on you; the
things of this fallen realm or the things from above? Is Christ your one
true source of life, or have you tapped into some other well, one that is
stagnant and dried up?
1 John 5:11-13 And this is the record,
that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He
that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not
life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of
the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God. (KJV)
Do you know the difference for yourself
what is of God and what is of the enemy? The tree of life has a name, and
those that know the name will have this life in them, an eternal unending
one that is given to us through the Son.
John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly
did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this
book: (31) But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
(KJV)
A tree is known by its fruit and easily
identified by what grows on it. The tree of life is known by its fruit as
well, and those that have the eyes of their understanding opened to the
realm of the Spirit know that name is Jesus Christ, and that our life comes
from knowing His name. There is only one name that will give you this new
life, while anything else leaves one uprooted and cut off from the true
source.
John 15:4-8 Abide in me, and I in you. As
the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no
more can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast
forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into
the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in
you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (8) Herein
is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my
disciples. (KJV)
Christian, Christ like, abiding in Him so
that He can abide in us. We are branches grafted into the tree of life,
without which we can do nothing that would be pleasing to our Father. When
one is not rooted and grounded in truth, they will wither and fall away and
are gathered up by men and their doctrines which eventually will lead to
burning. Those that know who they are in Christ will stay put in His realm
bearing much of His fruit, so that when others come seeking it they will
find it in abundance.
Revelation 22:1-4 And he shewed me a pure
river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of
God and of the Lamb. (2) In the midst of the street of it, and on either
side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of
fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations. (3) And there shall be no more curse: but
the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall
serve him: (4) And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their
foreheads. (KJV)
Again we notice a healthy wholesome tree
is one that is planted near a river, this being a river of life. Those that
know the Lord and are partakers of His kingdom will stay planted and
grounded in His truth, knowing His name and having the mind of Christ. The
word of God is a pure word, living, clear as crystal, and easily understood
by those that know the truth, the life giving truth that sets them free and
allows them to partake of the new life in Christ.
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