Rayford Strange
Sept. 23, 2022
Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of GOOD and evil.
Please notice that the forbidden tree which God commanded that man must not eat was also in the garden which was a GOOD tree, GOOD fruit, pleasant to the eye and good food, pleasing to the eye. If you will notice; the tree of knowledge was not all evil. More than likely it was mostly all good but it was forbidden to eat from it since somewhere in the fruit of it, albeit as minuscule and unseen as it may have been, this knowledge from this tree was death to the whole human race.
God said “in the day that you eat of it, thou shalt surely die.” Though Adam did not die physically on that day, yet, he died spiritually by the loss of fellowship with his creator who commanded him NOT to eat of it.
Dear friends, I suggest that those same two trees are spiritually among us today. It’s the spirit of life and the other is the spirit of death….two trees. To put it another way; two trees are presented to every man, the one is the spirit of Truth which is LIFE.. The other is the spirit of error which will cause DEATH. Do not assume that both trees are not found today in the spiritual garden of God, the church. They both are here, presenting themselves before us.
But why would God allow mankind to be tempted by the tree of knowledge knowing from eternity past that man would surely be tempted to eat from the tree of knowledge? The tree of knowledge like all the other trees is pleasant to the sight, good for food. From the beginning of every church of every age there are two wisdom, one of God, the spiritual wisdom, the other, natural (carnal) wisdom. There are two knowledges, two choices, two eternal destinies, all depending upon the choices from which tree you and I may choose to eat, even the Tree of Life which is Divine, giving life everlasting. The other is also good, pleasant to the eye, notwithstanding the very small, unseen, minuscule element of evil so stealthily hidden within it which may appear irrelevant.
So why would God allow his creation to be tempted? Today as then and always, he is looking for a peculiar people who willfully choose to keep God’s commandments and do his Word regardless how good, regardless how plausible, regardless how logical, regardless how reasonable and pleasant another tree may appear before our eyes. God is looking for an ELECT as Gideon’s 300 men who, unlike many other men, lapped water like a dog. Why would these 300 men be entirely unlike all the others who were refused and sent home? It was a God given innate sense to choose the right manner of drinking the water God gives every man that same innate sense whether they want to hear it or not. God is yet calling out an ELECT for his Name’s sake who will not eat of the Tree of Knowledge no matter how pleasant it appears, no matter how good or reasonable or logical it appeals to the eye of the carnal mind.
In the eyes of God, a LIE is evil. The definition of the fear of God is to HATE evil….which includes the LIE. Where there is no fear of God, the carnal mind may imbibe almost anything that appears reasonable and plausible, especially if it is purported to be from God. “The carnal mind is enmity with God and is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” It is stout against God though often cloaked in a garb of humility presenting much truth, an element of good.
A few days ago, I posted a picture of a book entitled “88 Reasons why the Rapture will be in 1988.” 1988 came and went long ago but no lift off from the planet. Some of my friends responded to that, some remembered that lie. Yet, almost the entire Apostolic church, with a few exceptions, was rocked by this LIE. How often have I seen a similar LIE manifested in one way or the other….even from those who preach and teach Jn 3:5/Acts 2:38.
Since the beginning of the Church, from the day of Pentecost, heresies of all sorts have tried to creep in to destroy the church. The Trinity doctrine got a foothold and grew to the point until it became orthodox in 325ad. The great revival among the reformed which was a move of God in its beginning. This reformed movement came out of the Catholic Church went into apostasy when the word ALONE was added to their faith: Saved by grace through faith ALONE.
There are many heresies seeking acceptance by the modern Apostolic Church of today. Those heresies looks good, it’s pleasant to the eye. It’s reasonable knowledge, otherwise it would not be deceptive. What could be the harm in it? The carnal mind is willing to accept it since it has the ability to make one wise. Yet, these heresies are cloaked in such a manner as to deceive those who have not the mind of Christ…..the Tree of Life. I see this Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil growing throughout the length and breath of the modern Apostolic Church world. I also see the masses eating from it.
Here are the two trees presented to us today in the modern Apostolic Church: First: the tree of LIFE. Tomorrow, I’ll post a picture of the present day heresy, the heresy of this day…a LIE. This present day heresy, like all other heresies in days gone by, is attempting to destroy the modern day Apostolic Church.
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