02/01/2022
We fell from grace in the Garden of Eden, and yet God didn’t give up on us. He was merciful towards us, and continued to lead us, and teach us of the way to righteousness, and Himself; He showed us His love. Then, He sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us, and to defeat the sin that had found its home in us. Through Jesus, God returned to us the fruit of the tree of life which we lost long ago when driven from Eden. This tree is Jesus; It’s fruit is His body and the blood which we consume, and they restore to us the eternal life we once lost… we are given life through our faith, His grace, and the love of God.
“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
Titus 3:4-7 ESV
In the 1400s, Juan Ponce de Leon searched for the fountain of youth, and he did so because man had long believed there was a fountain, or tree of life that would restore their youth, and give them eternal life. He misunderstood, just as the early Jews misunderstood the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Ponce de Leon thought that eternal life could be had by immersing one’s self in a physical fountain, not in the living water of Jesus. Likewise, the early Jews thought that a Messiah would come who would physically conquer their enemies and return them to God’s good graces… many missed the coming of Jesus Christ because he was not what they expected, He had not come to take up arms against the Romans for them, but came as a spiritual King and the Conqueror of sin. In this way He was far mightier than anything they had imagined, and which some of them could ever imagine.
“What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.””
Romans 11:7-8 ESV
The eyes of the believer in Jesus Christ have been opened to the truth, the spiritual meaning behind baptism, communion, and the indwelling of Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit are known to us. In Jesus we find the true fountain of youth, and tree of life, and we see an amazing spiritual Kingship that far exceeds all those on earth. We call him the King of kings, and through our faith in Him we receive eternal life.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
John 10:27-28 ESV
The carnal world today continues to search for the fountain of youth, and for some way that they can obtain eternal life for themselves, but there is no such fountain on earth, and none of mankind’s efforts will do anything more than extend their lives for a short time. Their hearts are hard, eyes can’t see, ears can’t hear, and they live in a stupor. The truth of eternal life lies in Christ alone, and this is our promise…
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
John 3:14-15 ESV
Are we firm in our belief, and faith, or do we, like those in the world, continue searching the world over for a fountain of youth? Despite our belief in Jesus are we still holding onto the hope of a physical, carnal, solution to death? Are we holding firm to the promise of God, and Jesus, or does our hope remain mistakenly alive in man?
““You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”
Exodus 20:3-4 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your perfect love, mercy, and grace, that has redeemed us through Jesus, and made a way for us to enter eternity to be with you. Thank you for not leaving us to wallow in sin, and be lost to death. Help us to place all our faith in you, and to realize that we are saved by our faith in Jesus, and your grace… nothing of man being enough. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who loves us perfectly despite our imperfection. Praised be your name for your promise of eternal life, and the redemption from sin through Christ that will allow us to be in your presence always. Merciful are you towards us, and patient are you to wait for our hearts to soften, and our faith to reach its fullness in you. We worship you alone Lord, and place none above you. Your grace is sufficient for us, and we humble ourselves before you always. Wash our sin from us with the blood of Christ, and defeat death in us just as it was defeated through the resurrection of your Son. Transform us into His image, and lead us to righteousness. Thus, on the day of judgement we pray that you will find us worthy in Him, and seat us at your Holy table forevermore… your children, and joint heirs with Christ; washed in the fountain of youth, and dining on the fruit of the tree of life… Jesus Christ.
Rich Forbes