Time with Jesus - Tuesday, 28
August 2012
Hi all,
On this occasion we meditate on Jesus and the two trees
in the Garden of Eden. We trace a bit of the ancient history associated with
what took place in that Garden. One or two aspects are imaginary and included
to make sense of what happened. I have no claim to fresh revelation other than
the fact that Jesus is our “tree of life”.
Blessings
Jim
& Phyllida Strickland
Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
Time with Jesus – Tuesday, 28 August 2012
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Matt 10:8
Freely you received, Freely give |
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These
devotionals are the intellectual property of Jim Strickland and copyright
protected. You are welcome to copy and distribute them to anyone provided it
is for non-commercial Christian purposes
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©
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INTRODUCTION
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DAILY
LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES
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TALE OF TWO TREES
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Over
the past ± 55 years I’ve come across two types of people. One believes in
God. The other doesn’t. The ones who believe in God may be classified in many
different ways. Usually we talk about Hindus, Buddhists, Islamites, Jews and
Christians. These comprise the vast majority of those who believe in God.
Among those who include themselves among the Christians there is a huge
variety of different persuasions. A comparatively small minority of these are
born again, Bible believing Christians. Phyllida and I include ourselves
among their ranks. We believe the Bible is inerrant and totally trustworthy.
We may not have all the answers to everything. But if it comes to a matter of
opinion, we choose Biblical truth over and above the opinion of even the most
erudite professor of any university.
This
means we believe the story about Adam, Eve and the fall of man. We feel no
need to justify our position. If God’s Word states it, we are convinced it is
true. Stubborn? Yes. Objectionable? Where necessary! Pig Headed? Absolutely,
provided it is Kosher! We haven’t yet come across anything to contradict this
Scripture. Many have tried and failed. We have a phrase we apply to every challenge.
“I believe” If people say, “You are stupid!” we reply, “I believe!”
Today’s
Scriptures focus on trees and eternal life. There is a clear connection
between the two. No doubt there was a great variety of trees in the garden.
Two are referred to specifically. One was the tree of the knowledge of good
and evil. God forbade Adam from eating the fruit of this tree. The other was
the tree of life. Presumably a diet of this fruit would give mankind immortality.
In other words, provided man fed regularly on this fruit he would continue to
live. How this all worked is the million dollar question. What we know is
that from the day Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, apparently it
has not been found.
This
“tree” appears in various parts of Scripture. There is a sense in which Jesus
Christ is the tree of life. Certainly all life comes from God and is at the
behest of His Son Jesus. John’s Gospel makes this claim unreservedly. 6
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the
truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.
John 14:6 NLT Precisely how this fits
together is not known. What we do know is that when He was crucified and
nailed to the “tree”. In some mysterious way He became the “fruit” of that
tree! To find life we need to be in Him. So we must be crucified with Christ Galatians
2:20 NLT. Then we too are integral with the “Fruit” of the tree of
life.
Jim & Phyllida Strickland
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9 The
LORD God made all sorts of trees grow up from the ground--trees that were beautiful
and that produced delicious fruit. In the middle of the garden He placed the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil.
Genesis 2:9 NLT
11 This
is the testimony in essence: God gave us eternal
life; the life is in his Son.
1 John 5:11 MSG
16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him
should not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16 ESV
21 For just as the Father gives life to those He raises
from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone He wants.
John 5:21 NLT
26 The Father has life in Himself, and He has granted that
same life-giving power to His Son.
John 5:26 NLT
7 He
who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from
the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:7 NIV
2 The river flowed down the middle of the city's main
street. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing 12 crops of
fruit. Its fruit was ripe every month. The leaves of the tree bring healing
to the nations.
Revelation 22:2 NIrV
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom. Blessed is
the one who gains understanding 16 Long
life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honour. 17
Her ways are pleasant ways. All her paths lead to peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who hold her close.
Those who hold on to her will be blessed.
Proverbs 3:13, 16 & 18 NIrV
30 It
is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,
who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness,
holiness and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30 TNIV
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The Lord planted a garden. We do not
know the size.
But this we know for certain. It was
perfect in His eyes.
Sin had not yet touched them, so
plants would never die.
They kept on stretching upwards, till
they nearly reached the sky.
After God made Adam, he got a job of
work.
He took care of the garden. No need to
go to kirk!
There really was no reason. They
chatted every day.
In the cool of the evening, they
talked and talked away.
Adam tended Eden. I’m not sure what
that means.
Flowers, peas and parsnips; and even
runner beans?
His home was in a forest of yellowwood
and pines.
Acacia, and willow with interwoven
vines.
And there within those confines, our
man was free to rove.
Along with fruit and nut trees all
dotted round the grove.
Two trees were also in it. One was the
tree of life.
The other would bring knowledge of
sickness, death and strife.
How long that Adam stayed there, the
Bible doesn’t say.
Which isn’t so surprising; it’s not
needed anyway.
We know about the story, of the way
God gave him Eve.
We know about the serpent, who
intended to deceive.
We know about that which we are unable
to refute!
That Adam was persuaded and he ate
forbidden fruit.
An apple or an orange; we all have had
a guess?
But after he had eaten it, the world
was in a mess.
The garden was in chaos; plants
withered up and died.
The orchard was invaded by plant
disease and flies.
They saw that they were naked; their
righteousness had gone.
And so they sewed up fig leaves for
clothes they could put on.
The forest was affected in ways we do
not know.
Except we think that trees became
quite difficult to grow.
And when the Lord confronted them,
about this dreadful mess,
They knew He hadn’t come to them, to
comfort and to bless.
Now they had the knowledge of things
evil and things good.
Their banishment from Eden, they
quickly understood.
And every day thereafter, man’s tried
to find the tree,
They believe will give them all, their
immortality.
Jim
Strickland – Written 28th August 2102
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