"The Planting" - 2

 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman." (John 15:1 KJV)

  ""No longer will you need the sun to shine by day, nor the moon to give its light by night, for the LORD your God will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set; your moon will not go down. For I the LORD will be your everlasting light. Your days of morning will come to an end. All your people will be righteous. They will possess their land forever, for I will plant them there with my own hands in order to bring myself glory. The smallest family will become a thousand people, the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I the LORD will make it happen."" (Isaiah 60:19-22 NLT) 

 Having been shown the end of the story, we can relax a little, knowing that everything is going to be wonderful and glorious in the end. No matter what, those that love the LORD will be safe and secure for ever more! In the meantime, we must continue to abide in Christ, at all costs and no matter what! 

 When I say, 'No matter what,' I am speaking about our ability to doubt and be discouraged, mostly about our own faithfulness to follow and stay close to the Lord. I don't care who you might think you are, you are going to have times when you feel as though you don't belong, because you cannot be righteous enough to love God as you should. 

 As for that Tree, the one planted in the midst of the Garden; it was there to represent the law, just as the Law of Moses is there to show us how much we cannot keep it. I know I have said this before, but Adam was most likely fascinated by the fruit of that tree, long before Eve was created. I say this, because God to Adam not to eat of the tree, yet Eve had added, "Don't even touch it," to God's command. 

 One of two things were behind her adding those words; either Adam told her that God had said it, or she had witnessed Adam touching the fruit, and because of her intuition, felt it was best to not even touch it. When the serpent deceived her, neither one mattered; touching and eating were made right in her sight. 

 God's heart in all of this, was for Adam and Eve to ask Him for forgiveness! I know it sounds crazy, but there was only One that could make it all right, the One that forgives sin! Instead, they just blamed it on someone else, pretending that they were innocent, except for the fault of the others! Crazy thing is, Adam blamed God, saying, "It was the woman that you gave me!" 

 Here is the thing that I think matters the most in this story: That we never forget just how much God loves us, that He is always faithful to forgive us, and that no matter what, He will still love us! He truly does know you better than you know yourself...

"Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the LORD will display his glory, the splendor of our God. With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands, and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, and do not fear, for your God is coming to destroy your enemies. He is coming to save you."" (Isaiah 35:1-4 NLT)