TALE OF TWO TREES

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			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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	INTRODUCTION		DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	TALE OF TWO TREES
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			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	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