30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 16 19-31 Released from self cetredness 25 The purpose for the tree
📖 Luke 16:19-31
28May2020 - *The purpose for the tree*- _Luke 16:19-31_ - _Bible reading: _Genesis 2:16-17_
_Luke 16:25 But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented._
We have begun discussing as to why some people receive good things in life and others, evil things? Why is it that evil people seem to prosper, while innocent people suffer? Where is the justice of God? Why does not God invade into the situation and make corrections?
We have seen that God gave man and woman the Shalom of God, life in all its fullness. We understood this abundant life in its four dimensions. Man and woman could have continued in the Shalom of God but it hinged on one condition and that was to obey the command of God. _Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; (17) but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."_ This was a command, not an encouragement or a suggestion from God.
Why did God give this command for man and woman to obey? I see three reasons why God planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden and then command man not to eat of it
The first being, for man to be responsible and be on an equal footing with God. All that man has is from God. Yet, God wanted man to take responsibility and choose to obey Him by exercising his free will, which also is aided by God. _Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure._
In raising us up to be on an equal footing with Him, God gives us the privilege to be one with Him and reign with Him. _John 17:21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me._
Secondly, God placed before man the option to choose life or death. _Proverbs 8:36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death."_
On one side was life, which was life in all its fullness (The four-dimensional life). On the other side was death. What is death? Death is all that is opposite to life. Man would die from his oneness with God, man would die in his oneness within himself, man would die from the oneness that he had had with one another and man die from his being alienated from creation. Creation is now rebelling against man for man instead of being the regal authority over creation, was now plundering and destroying creation for his own selfish ends. Death is working in tandem from all four directions and man is surely dead, which is what God said would happen if they ate the fruit of the tree.
The third reason for the tree was that God gave man the opportunity to be in a love relationship with Him. How can we express our love for God? Is loving God just worshipping Him and thanking Him for all His goodness. Loving God requires two basic steps to be implemented. Trust Him and to obey Him.
God had done His part in setting up a beautiful creation for man but now God had spoken and man had to trust His words. _Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Trusting in God had to be expressed in action. Faith without works is dead. _John 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments._
So, man and woman were in a love relationship with God. I’m using my imagination here. As they would pass by the tree, they would encourage one another and say, “We will not eat of the fruit of this tree, for we love God.”
Let us capture the purpose of God in planting the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and then commanding man not to eat of it.
In not eating the fruit of the tree, man and woman were expressing their love for God by trusting Him and obeying Him. In not eating the fruit, they were choosing life in all its four-dimensional fullness and they were rejecting death, which was the horrifying opposite of all that was life. In not eating the fruit of the tree they were on an equal footing with God, being co-rulers with Him.
It is God, who enabled them not to eat the fruit of the tree but man had to subject his will to God’s will, willingly. This was how man would be in God’s kingdom. _Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven._
*Thought to ponder*
```Matthew 11:29-30 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."```