Trees of Righteousness part 4
I like to talk about how when we look in the mirror with an open face we are changed into the image we see--which is our true identity, Jesus, God in the flesh, love in a body... God in OUR flesh, love in OUR body--from glory to glory. Not becomeing something we're not, but simply BEING what we already are. Understanding WHO we already are. Embracing our true self instead of trying to be someone we're not. So when we're talking about the trees of righteousness that we are, let's apply a very similar idea, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17). We are changed from glory to glory. God's righeousness--OUR righteousness--is revealed from faith to faith. Let me say it like this: Jesus is the Alpha and Omega. The first and the last. The beginning and the end. It starts with Jesus and ends with Jesus. Always. In the beginning... God. At the end (supposing there IS an end when you're talking about everlasting life)... God. When Jesus died on the cross and rose again three days later, He changed everything. Got rid of everything that wasn't... Him. I believe it is the Amplified version of the Bible that refers to this as the Messianic rebirth of the world. He took away the sin (unbelief) of the world. Cursed the fig tree (the tree of knowledge of good and evil, the tree of death) so that it would wither and die because it couldn't produce fruit. See, in the garden of Eden there were two trees, but in the Kingdom of God, in the book of Revelation (which I believe is simply an indepth look at the cross) there is only one tree. The Tree of Life. The Tree of Righteousness. And that, friends, is what we are. Because that is what He is. And as He is, so are we in this world. He is the vine. We are the branches. He has cast every tree that didn't bear fruit into the fire. But maybe not to burn it or destroy it. Maybe to purify it. Right? That's what the fire does. It gets rid of all of the imperfections. Jesus washed us with the Word (which is love) so that He could present us to Himself as a bride without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing. And all we have to do--ALL we have to do--is believe it. Receive it and release it. Breathe it in and breathe it out. The just will live by faith. From faith to faith. Our faith connects us to Jesus, and His faith makes everything happen. Look at Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." We died, but we live. Because we live in Him. Because He lives in us. And look at what the text says, "I live by the faith OF the Son of God." Not faith IN the Son of God. We live by HIS faith. And His faith is what matters. His faith is what gets things done. When Jesus prayed, His Father listened and answered. When Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," I believe God did so. He doesn't withhold things from us. Why would He? We are in rightstanding with Him. Not because of anything WE did or didn't do, but because of everything JESUS did. Abram believed, and it was counted to him for righteousness. We live by faith as Jesus reveals His (OUR) righteousness from faith to faith. Faith like a mustard seed growing in strength and power as God proves Himself to us over and over again. Faith is like a muscle: it grows when you use it. When you exercise it. When you walk by faith and not by sight. When you LIVE by faith!