From the Garden of Eden to the promised land: IT IS WRITTEN

From the Garden of Eden to the promised land: IT IS WRITTENOur Father is preparing a new heaven and a new earth, built for His bride, beautifully dressed for her husband. The promised land.

by Sue Le Marquand

12-08-2022 10:00

in Christian Connect

and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Photo: Pixabay

The Bible often uses trees to symbolize people:

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That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither- whatever they do prospers.

Psalm 1:3 (NIV) 7But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. 8 They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NIV) 3and provide for those who grieve in Zion-to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Isaiah 61:3-4 (NIV) Just like Adam and Eve, we can choose the tree of knowledge of good and evil, or we can choose to be those who represent the tree of life.

Since the beginning, God's plan was for us to eat of the tree of life for all eternity. Despite Adam and Eve's choice to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God set a redemptive plan in motion.

His Kingdom come His Word Jesus Christ (who was with Him since the beginning), came to earth as a man but not born of man's seed. He came as our High Priest, but on a different basis of priesthood from the norm:

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He was a priest in the order of Melchizedek i.e., not by birth but because of His indestructible life (see Hebrews 7). Jesus and Melchizedek were the only priests who were also Kings. Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, not of the Levites i.e., as a result of a promise, not of the law.

Because of this promise, Jesus has become a guarantee of a better covenant (Hebrews 7:22). Because He lives forever, Jesus has a permanent priesthood and is able to save completely (Hebrews 7:24 and 25)

A priest is one who intercedes on our behalf, offering sacrifices to cleanse us from sin. The priests of the Old Testament Levitical order required regular sacrifices for sin. However, Christ died once for all (1 Peter 3:18), so that by embracing the promise of our High Priest, we can become a planting of the LORD for the display of his glorious splendour !

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As part of His Kingdom plan, our Father is preparing a new heaven and a new earth - His heavenly Jerusalem (Zion), built for His bride, beautifully dressed for her husband (Revelation 21). A place where His glory dwells; His place of rest where streams of living water flow. On each side of the river will be a tree of life, yielding fruit in season, providing healing for the nations.

The overcomers to reign with Him in the Promised Land Those who continue to believe, trust, and obey, even when the situation seems impossible Those who offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and prayers to the one who could save them from death (Hebrews 5:7)

Those who learned obedience from what they suffered (Hebrews 5:8)

Those genuine peacemakers, agents of justice, who no longer partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but rather rejoice in the Kingdom of God: The Tree of Life!

We have one, Christ Jesus, our Messiah, who has been made perfect forever! He is our high priest who has gone before us to make a way, and to prepare a house for us, His Bride, that we may become part of Zion, the New Jerusalem - our promised land, where we will forever enter His rest with Him.

PRAYER Abba, please help us choose to partake of the Tree of Life daily!

Throughout your Word there are promises of rich and abundant blessings for those who seek you, and who trust and obey you.

Help us to be overcomers, so that we can be partakers of your Kingdom, even here and now Lord. In the authority that is ours in Jesus' name we pray,

Amen.

ALSO READ: Daily devotion: Here's your Bible verse and prayer

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