Eating from the Tree of Life
In the first part of this series, I unpacked a dynamic connection between purity and power that we don’t often hear about. I was prompted to study this after the Lord gave me a short but amazing word, “…You are pure and powerful!” What an exciting revelation – you can take that for yourself! You will want to dive into Part 1 before Part 2 if you have not done so already. In today’s blog, I will unpack how to practically operate in this flow and continue with this in Part 3. The Tree of Life is ultimately Christ Himself which we will learn more about.
Power Released with Purity
As a review, Jesus, when He sent out the 12 disciples into the world, admonished them in Matthew 10:16 (AMPC):
16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep in the midst of wolves; be wary and wise as serpents, and be innocent (harmless, guileless, and without falsity) as doves.
He later sent out 70 disciples with the same instructions. They came back ecstatic because of the power they were operating in. Luke 10:17-18 (MKJV):
17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
God has given us His authority over all the might of what operates against you! There is a purity to connect with on a heart level and purity to operate out of, while also operating in wisdom. This releases dynamic transformational power.
I can hear the internal conversation, “Yea, that sounds great, but you don’t know what I’ve done/not done. Purity feels far off.” It is true that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God in us (Romans 3:23). However, your sin (or good behavior for that matter) does not define you. Sin is not where we started and is not where we end! Truly where sin abounds grace does much more abound (Romans 5:20). You are in Christ and in Christ there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1). Let’s not get hung up on a relative blip of fallenness in light of the sweeping overarching reality of our in Christ spotless origin and destiny! Basing your worthiness on your success or failures undermines your ability to connect with who you truly are – innocent and wise.
How to Remain Innocent and Wise
So how do we remain innocent and pure while operating in powerful wisdom? That question is understandable and one I have been asked, which is why I phrased it that way. However, that phrasing presumes that we are not already innocent and wise or that we have to do something to maintain innocence and wisdom. Our in Christ position has made us both. This is based on Jesus’ performance, not ours (that is gospel good news!). But we must awaken to and operate out of who we truly are. Part one of this series focused upon the awakening to our original innocence and wisdom. Operating in that is the focus of this part of the series, as well as Part 3.
With that in mind, there is much revelation in the adage, we are what we eat! We have 2 trees we can feed on:
The Tree of Life (Genesis 2:9, 17; 3:22, 24; Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, 13:12. 15:4;
Revelation 2:7, 22:2, 22:14) or The tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9, 17, 3:3, 3:6, 11-12, 17).
Eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
The tree of knowledge of good and evil leads to:
- Death (Genesis 2:17)
- Enmity (or ever-growing hatred) between the serpent enemy
(however you define that) and all the Seed of Eve – Christ and
humanity (Genesis 3:15)
- Pain of childbearing (Genesis 3:16)
- The battle of the sexes for domination in which women lost (Genesis 3:16)
- Cursed way of existing (Genesis 3:17)
- Toil (Genesis 3:17)
- Fruitless labor/poverty (Genesis 3:17)
- Death, physical and spiritual (Genesis 3:17, 23-24)
Note, possessing the knowledge of good and evil was something that only God, Who is perfect Love with perfect sight, can handle (Genesis 3:22). His judgment is perfect, because He knows all things (John 16:30, 21:17; John 5:22, 30; 8:15-16, 1 Corinthians 2:15-16, Hebrews 12:23). Our knowledge is limited in and of ourselves, therefore, we are not to judge people and their hearts; we are only to judge fruit (Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 6:37; Matthew 7:16, 20; Matthew 12:33, Luke 6:44). For now, we see through the glass darkly (1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 13:12) and need Holy Spirit enlightened eyes to see rightly (Ephesians 1:18). We are to be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14) and to connect to the mind of Christ that we already have (1 Corinthians 2:15-16, 1 Corinthians 1:9-10).
Eating from the Tree of Life
Eating/Partaking from the Tree of Life leads to:
- Eternal life (Genesis 3:22)
- Ongoing healing (Revelation 22:2)
Wisdom as a tree of life brings:
- length of days,
- riches,
- honor,
- pleasantness,
- peace, life,
- grace, safety,
- guidance, and
- sweet sleep (Proverbs 3:13 – 26)
“To Live” in Hebrew is the word, “chayay,” which means:
to live, have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health
The Tree of Life is ultimately Christ Himself. He is Love, Who never fails (1 John 4:8,16; 1 Corinthians 13:4a). He is the Way, Truth and Life (John 14:6, John 6:35). John 6:35 (NKJV) says:
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Moreover, John 17:3 (NKJV) says:
And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (TPT) further elaborates:
24 and gave thanks. Then he distributed it to the disciples and said, “Take it and eat your fill. It is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” 25 He did the same with the cup of wine after supper and said, “This cup seals the new covenant with my blood. Drink it—and whenever you drink this, do it to remember me.”
Aramaic translations actually say “Eat and be satisfied.” We are to eat and drink of Christ and partake of His life! We are to be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). The more we feed on the Tree of Life (Christ Himself, Who is Love, Truth and Life) vs. the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (fear, judgment, fallen perspective and death) the more we are empowered to operate from innocence and butt-kicking wisdom!
There’s more to unpack here and I want to do a good job doing so. I will pick up from here in our final part of the series. Don’t miss it! I hope this has been enlightening! I’d love to hear what revelation this has sparked in you, please share below!
Love,
Catherine
