Proverbs 14:12, NIV
“The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.””
Genesis 2:16-17 NASB
The only way to leave behind these patterns of destruction – this death – and our history of failure and bondage, is to be led out of them. We can not undo what Adam, the man and the woman, did, but we can be free from what they did, and the consequences.
Life, as lived and led by Jesus, is counterintuitive.
Jesus said, Come to me and I will give you rest. Learn of me and you’ll find rest (see Matthew 11). From there we are equipped to lead others to the Source of rest, after taking Jesus yoke on personally. Like the admonition of the flight attendant, right? First put on your yoke, then help someone else. 🙂
My yoke is easy, and my burden light, says Jesus.
This seems so simple, it actually seems too simple. But it’s true, and it is foolishness to the natural mind.
As an example, if somehow you were tasked with the responsibility of starting a new congregation, what would need to be done? A lot of things come to mind, long before we pray and get direction. This is exactly what I’m talking about. I've seen this happen, and it's fruit. We want to depart from the simplicity of the being lead. We all like sheep have gone astray. Peradventure the Lord wanted to lead us in a different direction?
We know what to do, and that is what is killing us.
There are many traps that lie within this one trap. Here are a few examples.
First, we initiate and THEN ask the Lord to bless what we have started. Sound familiar?
Secondly, the Lord gives us initial direction, which we accept, but then we go on to do whatever “appears to be right” after striking out in the direction of where we have initially been led. This has historically been my tendency, and one of my major failings. Let's sit down over coffee and discuss a few of my experiences on this, when you have time.
If someone else comes to mind as you think about this, you’re missing the point. This is not someone else’s issue. It’s yours, and it’s mine. And we must take responsibility for it, personally, if we want to depart from the pattern of death.
While I strive to be gracious in the discussion of this subject, I don’t want to be misunderstood. This is serious, complete with eternal consequences.
Examine yourselves, to see if you are in the faith (2 Cor 13:5). The idea here is to verify, which normally follows a thorough examination.
Repentance is the answer for those straying, followed by a change of trajectory.
Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you Great and mighty things which you have known (see Jeremiah 33). If we are going to know the things we have not known – the very things that He wants to show us, which give us life and remove our burdens – it may be at the cost of what we do know, the thing that is killing us, the tree of knowledge of good and evil.