Eating from the Tree of Knowledge

In my last post I showed how we’re not to live by the Tree of Knowledge. Living by the Tree of Good and Evil is a power that will turn on us, and turn in us. Eating this tree’s fruits will make me sour and bitter towards God. He will become my assumed opponent, attacking and mistreating me. And as a result, I will live resisting rather than receiving. I will live resisting everything from Him that I consider evil and attempting to wrest out of His hands things that I determine to be good. This is not Life; this is dancing with the serpent.

Today I want to show what we actually are supposed to do if we’re not to live distinguishing between that which is good and bad. It is very simple but not easy. Everything in life will tempt us to return to the Tree of Knowledge. If I just continue to eat that fruit, Satan wins and I will die. So what’s the alternative? The alternative is to live LISTENING.

Eating the Fruits of the Tree of Knowledge

If I am eating the fruits of knowledge then I am involved in fixing what God screwed up and manhandling Him to give me what is good—according to my opinion. I leave the relationship with Him and become entangled with the mishegoss. I become engaged in fixing and figuring rather than simply pursuing Him.

OK, so I am going to tell on myself and give you an instance of this: the mid-term elections. As I have watched the blatant fraud and obstruction of justice, I have become wound up. When I get worked up, I scour about seeking answers to assuage my fears. So in this I started seeking answers. What is happening and what are people doing to stop this? And this stance worked me into a lather of concern and fear. But it has been perfect, because it has given me an up close and personal example of eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

Knowledge ever seeks more knowledge ad nauseam. All this taking in of knowledge (facts and figures) doesn’t alleviate my troubled soul. If anything, it works me up more. The enemy always boasts of his power and prowess while magnifying my weakness. I become hopeless and discouraged, feeling as if all is lost. So, what is my problem here? Anyone? [Bueller? Bueller?] The Tree of Knowledge will NEVER relieve my fears; it only increases them!

The Answer to the Tree of Knowledge

My answer is The Answer. If I would instead turn to Him I would have more power, more peace, more influence, and more Jesus. Seeking His face and turning my troubled heart to prayer. When will I ever learn that my greatest influence is not in gathering information but in seeking Jesus?

This doesn’t mean that I insulate and isolate myself in a soundproof room. I live and work in this world. I am going to be affected. But it does mean I must focus on my Source. Do I think that this is the first time in history that man has conjured and cajoled to grasp power? Certainly not! Men of faith since the beginning have faced the antagonism of other men and had to choose the Facts of God.

Look at Nehemiah, as an example, a man called of God to restore the wall of Jerusalem while Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem opposed his every step. Nehemiah and his men were harassed, mocked, criticized, lied about, threatened and attacked. But Nehemiah kept his eye on his task and listened to the Voice, not the inane reports. The tsunami of “knowledge” coming against Nehemiah could have caused him to falter if he gave it credence. If he had engaged with the subterfuge of dissent, he would have lost all.

The Voice of God or The Tree of Life

We as well must maintain clarity and resolve. We must not have our reality defined by the chatter of facts and figures but by the Voice of the Most High. Why is His Voice the last voice many seek for truth? We have great influence in seeking the Lord and only feel powerless while listening to the endless negative reports. We poll the world to see if we are safe, while Safety dwells among us. My strength is the Lord and only in Him I can affect my world.

A Statement of Truth

The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.
Psalm 14:2

For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Romans 1:21

God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from any one of us.
Acts 17:27

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

“But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before Him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
Job 5:8-9

But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who long for Your saving help always say, “The LORD is great!”
Psalm 40:16