Brethren consider the symbolism of the garden trees: the “tree of life” symbolises God’s ‘Spirit of truth’ that is life (not death). It is inspired by Wisdom and gives spiritual (than material) satisfaction; it saves mankind, renews life, holds riches, honour and peace. (Proverbs 3:16-18; Romans 14:17).
For the “tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food” it depicts the flesh which is external and driven by lusts and wanton desires that crave material satisfaction – the Choice of Eve.
And of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil”, the ‘good knowledge’ part speaks of God’s ways of truth; while the ‘evil’ part signifies the devil’s ways of lies and deceitfulness that influences upon man’s fleshly desires to satisfy one’s lusts than to believe in God. “This tree symbolises the existence of knowledge of good and evil, or truth and lie together. Forbidding man therefore from eating it is God’s way of telling mankind that evil cannot coexist with THE ONLY TRUE GOD (John 4:24; 17:3; 17:17). In other words, one cannot believe in God, the Spirit of Truth, and believe also in Evil Satan, the Spirit of Lies. It surely brings spiritual and invariably physical death! (Genesis 3:4; Psalm 5:4; John 8:44-45; Matthew 6:24).
Brethren, by the trees analogy, God was creating the opportunity of choice for Mankind to either seek Him who is the “Spirit of Life’ to feed one’s spiritual needs; or the choice of lust and lies to feed the flesh and material needs; or to choose unbelief, lies and ‘sure death’ by choosing knowledge of both good and evil. These choices are before all humankind even today – your spiritual needs (truth and life), your material needs (lusts and lies) or unbelief (spiritual death)
The next message (Part II) will explain the character of the ‘Spirit of Lies’ in mankind.
PRAYER
Almighty Father, thank you for your word and for holding our soul in life.
Deliver thy people from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue of Satan and his agents.
Gracious Lord let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against them.
Holy Spirit help them to choose the path of truth over lies and unbelief in their walk with You.
I make this prayer in JESUS NAME.
Have a blessed year of peace, prosperity and piety!
Lots of Love, P. Schwartz (SOG) 5 January 2020.
