Partaking of the Wrong Fruit

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     The words of the wise are like cattle prods—painful but helpful. Their collected sayings are like a nail-studded stick with which a shepherd drives the sheep.

     But, my child, let me give you some further advice: Be careful, for writing books is endless, and much study wears you out.

     That’s the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone’s duty.  God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad.  ~Ecclesiastes 12:11-14

     I've been reading alot lately.  It seems there are endless opinions about what is wrong with the world and the body of Christ, and how to fix it.   Some blame our problems on the institutional church, advocating for an exodus like the one out of Egypt in the days of old.  I hope and pray we will remember the lessons contained therein.  

     In review, during a time of great famine, the Lord's people had sold themselves into a life of slavery.  Additionally, when God delivered them out of the bondage in Egypt most ended up going around the same mountain and never made it into the promised land.  Whether we are in or out it's all the same if the heart remains unchanged.

     Others blame pastors and teachers.  Although it is true that history shows the evil and deceptive ways of some of the Lord's overseers, there is also the account of people liking it that way.  With the Lord we all should examine our own hearts.

     Politics and the law have also been blamed.  Then there are those impulsive liberals, the unyielding conservatives, and the list goes on and on.  It's like entering into a vast forest of knowledge.  Branches keep springing forth bearing the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil and deceptive promises continue to be offered if we will only partake.  Viewed through the lense of our natural senses it can look good and invitingly sweet.  

     How do we know the truth and avoid getting lost in this vast forest with its shadowy figures looming among the trees waiting for an opportunity to pounce on us?  How do we avoid being taken for a wild ride away from the light of revelation (God's Heart unveiled) and devouring one another?  We can start by heeding the first command, do not partake of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil for this forbidden fruit results in death instead of life. 

     Discussing and understanding the role of contributing factors has its benefits and knowledge of itself is not evil.  The folly lies in the partaking of the knowledge of good and evil instead trusting in Jesus and partaking of his life.  When we do that we declare our independence from God and choose to be our own god. 

     As we partake of our Lord's life we will have a deeper  understanding that comes from being intimately connected to Him on matters, one that springs from his heart where good exists.  Don't be fooled like Little Red Riding Hood.  Avoid being taken for a wild ride and devoured.  Truth and the way is a person, Jesus Christ.  As you stay on the straight and narrow you will know your Heavenly Father intimately.  The path may take on different appearances on the surface but in the deep it forever remains the same. There is only one way that leads us into the truth resulting in good and eternal life so let us trust in Jesus and partake of Him. 

     So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.  But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.  I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me.  I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.”  ~John 6:53-58

Further Reading:  The Heart of the Matter is the Matter of the Heart, Knowing God, The Song of the Heart