Torn from its roots a tree will not survive. A way of life separated from its source cannot be an example for others. The difference between morning, day and night illustrates the seasons of human activity, the last being a period of inactivity.

In the morning you shall say, ‘Would that it were evening!’ And at evening you shall say, ‘Would that it were morning!’ because of the dread of your heart which you dread, and for the sight of your eyes which you will see.

Deuteronomy 28:67

This dire warning from Moses to his people in anticipation of their continued rebellion against the covenant is extremely relevant in our times as we notice the decay that eats away at our society. Especially where you have people who are claiming to have the light of divine wisdom and to be in the right we can say that the 2022 environment is demonstrably excessively evil and corrupt. We have to give thanks for the divine wisdom which sees that a severe chastisement can manifest itself in a people not knowing what time it is. How true is that of the trees of today’s forest!

Knowing the facts in light of the ttuth

Christ is a light and a lightning rod, but he did not use speech to insult or misinform. For a guy who called himself the Truth the bar was high. He had to speak true things and perform the things that were undeniable. The use of force by God or Christ’s disciples to prevent the passion was unthinkable and frankly was not allowed.

God’s eternal edict is not kill ’em all

God’s word gets fulfilled in his Word incarnate. All the notions about human compliance are a lot of hot and haughty airs. Not knowing whether we are hot or cold is not responsible behaviour. God’s righteous judgment – I love them I redeemed them – is the last thing even Moses would expect.

Redemption is an accomplished fact. People can talk about all the phases of our experience of God’s great gift but it does not change the fact that 2000 years ago the Redeemer said “It is finished”. He’s done and therefore that tree planted by the rivers of water is going to produce its fruit in its season, its leaves will not wither and whatsoever it does will prosper because God loves his planted tree and keeps it.

But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

Matthew 26:54

Identity dictates activity

If one believes that a person is like a tree (Psalm 1:3) then it makes no sense not to believe the following about this tree. This person

• is firmly planted by streams of water
• yields its fruit in its season
• has leaves that do not wither
• prospers in all he does

You may not realize that leaders and many brainwashed believers are engaged in a desperate attempt to coax believers to perform and produce. – the trees of God’s planting – barely need that. Sharp on the heels of that exhortation are devaluation and condemnation for not performing; guaranteed!

Our Destiny

But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

  1 Thessalonians 5:4-9, NASB