Which Tree are You Living From?

The question of late has been how do we as individuals who believe in the power of the cross of Christ go from a natural place of living out of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to living supernaturally from the tree of life?

As a believer in Jesus Christ, His life, death, and resurrection there is a constant tension attached to my life regarding this belief and what it really means to me on a practical everyday level.  If I believe there is power in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ how does that change my everyday existence and is my life supposed to look like something other than it is?  What does the cross of Christ really mean for me as an individual living in an affluent culture where I am taught that I don't need God.  Where I am taught I can take care of myself and live my life doing whatever makes me happy with no thought of God or His influence on humanity. (Unless of course I see an injustice which I can readily blame on His negligence or lack of feeling for me or others)

In my frustration with life and the mundaneness of it I seek to find what is missing.  Life doesn't seem to have much meaning within the confines of the daily routines involving work, church, and everyday home life.  There must be more to this "Christian" life and I intend to find it!

Two influences who the Lord has set in my journey of discovery have been Jared Black and Ian Clayton.  I began listening to Ian about a month ago and through his teaching the Word of God has opened up to me in ways it never has before.  Now I find after attending teaching sessions with Jared Black the Lord seems to be saying very similar things.  Both of these men have learned the value of studying the Bible from a Hebraic interpretation instead of from the Greek interpretation in which we now have.  This leads both of them to a form of teaching that is more Rabbinical in nature. Leaving each subject open ended in an effort for the student to "chew on" what has been said and seek God for the answer therefore making room for relationship between the student and the Savior. I personally thrive in this form of teaching because it gives me time with the Father to work out of me everything that is not like Him.

So in my journey of discovery the subject that God seems to be highlighting within both settings involves the way I live my life as follower of Jesus and the two trees in the garden seem to be His method of approach.  The tree of the knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life found in Genesis represent two ways of thinking and living life.  It says in Genesis that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil brought death while the other tree brought life.  So just like Adam and Eve we have the choice to live our life pursuing the knowledge of good and evil or pursuing life.

Jesus was our example here on earth as He never addressed questions posed to Him from a right or wrong standpoint. He always gave another option and turned it from right or wrong, good or evil to something else. The something else He would focus on most often resulted in the choice of life or death.  So what does this look like for us as we live in a society where social justice has become the god of choice and what is right or wrong, good or evil is in the eye of the beholder? How do we climb down from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and climb up the tree of life?  What does that look like practically?

This question is not easily answered because unless we are daily sitting at the feet of the Father learning what His heart is saying in every situation our natural tendency is to run back up the tree of knowledge and judge what we see from our perspective there.  How do we get down from the tree and stay down in every situation or circumstance that comes up?

Today while listening to a teaching by Ian Clayton I heard some things that made sense regarding this very subject.  He stated that the Laws of the Kingdom of Heaven are not a set of rules and regulations that produce death but are a lifestyle of knowing and experiencing the power of a higher law.  The Laws of the Kingdom of Heaven produce life.  This statement reminded me of the two trees one producing death the other producing life.  He went on to state that the Laws of the Kingdom of Heaven are a living substance that exists in a living kingdom and is secured by relationship with that kingdom.  If you don't have a relationship with the Kingdom of Heaven and secure the laws out of that kingdom then you will remain subject to the laws of sin and death.

So what does this mean for me in the confines of my earthly existence?  I am not sure, but one thing I do know, if living in the confines of this earthly existence keeps me subject to the law of sin and death I need to find a way out of these confines.

The Lord has revealed to me in a greater way lately the truth of my existence as a spirit being first.  I was created to be a spirit being before I was created to be a human being.  This being said, as a spirit being I  have access to and authority in the spirit realm and the realm of heaven.  I am still fleshing this revelation out and all the nuances of it but if Jesus said in John  14:12 that we would be able to do the things He did on earth and even greater this makes perfect sense.  Jesus not only healed the sick and raised the dead, He also walked on water and through walls and crowds. If we are to do the things He did and more should it not stand to reason we would have to access and live our lives more as spirit beings than human beings?

If I could live my life continually as a spirit being there is no telling what my life would be like and how God could use me to further His Kingdom here on earth.  It would beat living a mundane life of routine any day.

As this revelation unfolds I would ask that you give me grace to explore what I am hearing the Father saying on the subject and seek to hear Him for yourself.