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Monday, September
8, 2008
Going Green
Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man that
walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of
sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (2) But his delight is in
the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (3) And
he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth
his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he
doeth shall prosper. (KJV)
Save the planet, go green, plant a tree,
phrases we hear spoken in the outward realm, something that has been taking
place spiritually though for a long time, or should be taking place. While
driving recently I noticed fields upon fields of open range, some with hay,
some with stubble, others just full of weeds. Then I noticed groves of
trees with growth all around and realized there must be a river or creek of
some sort, a life giving water to provide the growth. Christians are
described as trees, and those that bear the fruit of the Spirit are planted
near a life giving source, that being a river of life. The more one becomes
rooted and grounded in the Word, the more these rivers of living waters
will flow through them, causing them to grow and withstand all the winds of
doctrines that will blow through. It is also expected of our Lord that when
something is planted that it should continue its growth and prosperity;
being in season, or ready to give an answer to any man that is seeking the
source of life as well. A true healthy spiritual tree will be one with
healthy leaves that are green and growing, not drying up and falling away
from the tree, eventually blowing with the wind. What kind of tree are you
presenting to our Lord and His people today; is it one of good health and
prospering, or is it drying up and withering, ready for the fireplace?
Jude 1:11-13 Woe unto them! for they have
gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for
reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. (12) These are spots in
your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves
without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees
whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
(13) Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars,
to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. (KJV)
You can cut parts of a tree off pruning
it and it will survive, but once the roots are pulled up and they are cut
off from the source of life it is not long before the tree withers and
dies. There are many trees that have been planted for a season which endure
for a short time, but when the first storm comes along with blowing winds
they end up uprooted and no longer bearing fruit. Many Christians are like
that as well, you know the many that are called but few are chosen. Few are
willing to lay down their lives for others, to stay rooted and grounded in
the Word despite the opposition from the fowls of the air who try to pluck
the seed out of the ground before it takes root.
Ezekiel 17:7-10 There was also another
great eagle with great wings and many feathers: and, behold, this vine did
bend her roots toward him, and shot forth her branches toward him, that he
might water it by the furrows of her plantation. (8) It was planted in a
good soil by great waters, that it might bring forth branches, and that it
might bear fruit, that it might be a goodly vine. (9) Say thou, Thus saith
the Lord GOD; Shall it prosper? shall he not pull up the roots thereof, and
cut off the fruit thereof, that it wither? it shall wither in all the
leaves of her spring, even without great power or many people to pluck it
up by the roots thereof. (10) Yea, behold, being planted, shall it prosper?
shall it not utterly wither, when the east wind toucheth it? it shall
wither in the furrows where it grew. (KJV)
God’s people perish for lack of knowledge;
like with a farmer, it takes a knowledge to know where to plant the seed,
how to till the ground, and to follow through with the crop so that it grows
and prospers. Many have planted themselves in places that are not healthy;
though it may appear to be a watering hole it is actually a mirage, a dry
place that has the appearance of life. Many claim to be of God and attached
to the vine only to fall away in times of trial, and wither. Once the seed
is planted, which for the believer is Christ (the true seed of God in good
soil), it is vital that the seed is watered daily, maintained and nurtured
so that the spiritual life becomes and continues to be more of an influence
on us than the carnal realm (which will lead to death if one falls away
again).
Matthew 15:11-14 Not that which goeth
into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this
defileth a man. (12) Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest
thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? (13) But
he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not
planted, shall be rooted up. (14) Let them alone: they be blind leaders of
the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
(KJV)
The enemy has planted many false
doctrines in this fallen world; tares, something that resembles wheat but
is bitter and not fit for use. A knowledgeable farmer will know the difference,
and not choose something false. Many Christians should know the difference
also, but instead of exercising their spiritual senses to discern the good
from the evil they accept any doctrine that comes along, not knowing how
deadly it can be because of their lack of diligence.
Mark 11:12-14 And on the morrow, when
they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: (13) And seeing a fig tree afar
off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and
when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was
not yet. (14) And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee
hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it. (KJV)
If the Lord came your way today in the
form of someone seeking truth, someone hungry and looking for a life giving
substance, what kind of shape would your tree be in? Would that person get
what is needed so that they could continue on the path of life, or would
they end up frustrated, finding nothing on a tree that should have been
producing fruit.
Mark 11:15-22 And they come to Jerusalem:
and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and
bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and
the seats of them that sold doves; (16) And would not suffer that any man
should carry any vessel through the temple. (17) And he taught, saying unto
them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house
of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. (18) And the scribes and
chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they
feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine. (19) And
when even was come, he went out of the city. (20) And in the morning, as
they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. (21) And
Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the fig tree
which thou cursedst is withered away. (22) And Jesus answering saith unto
them, Have faith in God.(KJV)
When you really stop and look at the
above illustration, isn’t the barren fig tree a classic representation of
what man calls a church; a place and body of believers that should be
bearing fruit are nothing more than dried up withering trees, worthless.
People that should be more concerned with the upkeep of their spiritual
temples are more concerned and caught up in the outward ones and end up
dead, dried up and of no use to the Master. If the Lord comes your way
today seeking fruit, what kind of tree will He find in your garden, will it
be an evergreen or kindling wood?
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