Like a Tree,

I took this photo of a tree at my son and daughter-in-law’s property near Gilgandra.

That tree, which is immense, must have found a very reliable source of water in order to keep itself in such good condition and be able to remain “green and growing” and not be troubled at all during the severe drought that is crippling the district at present. Now how did it do that? After all, the paddocks are so dry that the sheep have been hand fed for years. Well Psalm No 1, in the bible has the answer, it says that a “tree planted by a river of water shall bring forth fruit in its season and its leaves shall not wither and it shall prosper”.  The reason for that result is that it sends its roots down through the river bank to where there is water and consequently it is immune to the circumstances surrounding it and droughts and hot winds cannot stop it from prospering. I photographed this particular tree because it is growing beside a sandy bottomed creek and as there is

moisture underneath the sand it has sent its roots down to claim that water. To prove this point I took this next photo as some of the creek bank has been washed away and those roots have become exposed so you can plainly see that it is not dependent on surface moisture that is erratic, but relies on a dependable supply that is below the sand.   

You will notice that the tree on the right of the photo has died and I guess that was because it wasn’t near the creek; and the pine trees on the left don’t look that happy either. So you see, that Psalm writer who wrote those words about three thousand years ago, knew all about droughts and how a tree can cope with them, and this also shows us that droughts are not something new and are to be expected in many parts of the world, as are all sorts of other problems.

The interesting thing is that the Psalmist wasn’t really talking about trees: he was just using them as an illustration to show you and me, and all the other people who have lived, (and those who will come after us), that we can be just as prosperous in the difficult situations we may find ourselves in, as a tree is when it is planted beside a river or a creek, if we know where to look for help.

His actual words say that if we don’t follow the advice of ungodly people and don’t get involved with sin, and don’t be scornful about God, but instead “delight ourselves in the law of the Lord” and constantly think about His directions, we too will be like that tree and “everything we do shall prosper.” Jesus confirmed this when He died and rose again to reinstate us as “Children of God and Joint heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17), which is what happens to us when we repent (which means change our direction), and believe on the Lord Jesus, asking for his forgiveness for past sin. Then, like a tree that sends its roots down to draw on the life giving moisture in the river or creek, we can also draw on God’s “living water” as Jesus said in John 4:10-15. When we do that, Ephesians 3:17&19 says “That Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith; that we, being rooted and grounded in love…… know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that we might be filled with all the fullness of God,” thus His love and guidance is available in whatever circumstance we find ourselves, as we draw on it and stop worrying, because “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds in the knowledge of Christ.” (Philippians 4:7). Now that is a long way better than battling on our own like a tree away from the river or creek! And then there is also our assurance of Eternal Life. I ask you, what could be better? If we haven’t already done so, (and pride is keeping us away from all that), then don’t you think that for Heaven’s sake, (as well as a better life right now), and in appreciation of God’s Kindness, we should “pocket our pride”, and join the winning team?          best wishes, Tom. 

The Box or the Diamond.

 

I had been in love with Audrey for some time and at 21 years of age I realised that she was the girl I wanted to marry and share my life with (“until death us do part” as the wedding vows say), So I went to the Pharmacy in Bourke that was an agency for

Angus and Coot, (jewellers in Sydney), and chose a diamond ring, somewhat like the one in the photo. It cost me 2 month’s wages, and they supplied a nice little padded box for free. I gave Audrey the ring and the box at her 21^st birthday party.

I don’t think Audrey valued the box very much although she may have found it handy on occasions, however I am glad to say she was happy to wear, and show the ring to all the family and friends who were present at the party, and I got a lot of pleasure out of that.

Can you imagine how disappointed I would have been if she had ignored the ring and just been in raptures about the box? That would have been ridiculous of course, but did you ever stop to think that the majority of people in the world do the equivalent of that? We have a tendency to pamper our bodies that God placed our Souls in, which are just “boxes” which have a limited lifespan. Whilst we more or less forget to nurture the “real Us”, (our Souls), that God put inside those “boxes” and that have an eternal lifespan. How frustrating that must be for God when He sees that we have our priorities wrong.

You see God designed each one of us as those Diamond rings are designed. He does not “mass produce” people. Everyone he designs has unique bodily features like our own DNA, voice, finger prints, looks, and so on.  But He also made us to be an expression of “His image and likeness,” in our natures, attitudes and personalities which should copy His. The body that was given to us is just a useful vehicle for us to move around in, (similar to the car we use to make our bodies more mobile).  God has set this world up with all sorts of things for us to engage in and enjoy, just as the city council has supplied wonderful play areas for children: Unfortunately, though,

children are just miniature human beings, and although some of them come to the play park anticipating adventure and joy, and share with the other children. Some others come with a “chip on their shoulder,” and selfishly take over the equipment and make it unpleasant for everyone else.

 Of course, they all have to go to their homes eventually, so some children go with joy in their hearts whilst others go home grumpy. It was the same play park that they all had access to, the difference in the outcomes is caused by their attitudes whilst they are there. Similarly, after we have spent our life in this world we too will have to go to our Heavenly Father’s “Home”, and some of us will go happily because we have accepted Jesus forgiveness for sin, and then followed His instruction to love our neighbours and therefore “shared this play Park world” with them. Whilst others will not reach that home in Heaven at all, but will be re-directed to a “Mannus Island” sort of place (only worse), where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew Chapter 13 Verse 50). Why? Well, some people think they can ignore the rules and gain entry to the Heaven that God had prepared for them, without accepting the entry Visa Jesus bought for them, which is only available to those who repent and believe on Jesus, and ask God’s forgiveness for sin. (Heaven cannot be “gate-crashed”).

Fortunately, though if we haven’t yet committed ourselves it is not too late to comply with the above conditions and be free to “go home” to one of those “Mansions” that Jesus said He went to prepare for us when our body dies.

Children come to the Play Park where all the equipment they could possibly want is provided. They don’t bring that equipment with them and they cannot take it home. The whole idea is for them to enjoy themselves and only take home Spiritual things, like happiness, friendship, kindness. I see a parallel here to our life on earth because we come into this beautifully equipped world, bringing nothing with us and although we are to use and enjoy it all whilst we are here, we can take none of these physical things with us when we leave. However, we can, and should, make friends with the God who provided all this, and eventually take the Spiritual things we acquire, such as love, Joy, friendship and kindness back with us to Heaven where He has arranged for us to spend eternity in one of the mansion Jesus went to prepare for us. Housing is expensive here, but God supplies it free for his children there.

God bless you as you think this through, because this is the most important decision we ever have to make.   It is God’s very adequate Spiritual Superannuation Policy. Don’t miss out!         Regards. Tom.

How Perfect is Perfect?

One morning, about 50 years ago, my wife Audrey, and I were just about to get out of bed when we heard the rattle of cups and saucers and a lot of whispering coming from the kitchen. Sensing that our two daughters, Rueleen and Jenelle, were planning

something secretly, to surprise us, we decided to wait and see   what they intended to do. (At that time they were a bit younger than they are in the photos here). Sure enough we had guessed right because a few minutes later they came into our room carefully carrying a tray with two cups of tea, and a SAO biscuit with butter and Vegemite in the saucer beside each cup.  Audrey and I sat up in bed with pillows behind our shoulders and received the tray onto our laps with great delight, whilst they stood at the end of the bed all excited to see how we enjoyed our tea and biscuits.

 

Needless to say we were excited by the fact that they cared enough to do this out of love for us. After we had sipped our tea and tasted our biscuits they asked “How is it?” Of course, with smiles on our faces, we replied that “it was perfect.”

Now what did we mean by “perfect”? Was the tea made exactly the way we liked it? No it wasn’t; it contained too much milk and sugar. How about the biscuit, was it perfect? No not really, it would have been better on a separate plate as some tea had made one edge of each biscuit soggy. But all that paled into insignificance as we realised the love that prompted their effort and the delight they had in doing something for us, and we certainly never criticised their effort because it was absolutely perfect in our eyes.

When these girls grew up they had families of their own and when we went to visit them they would serve us morning or afternoon tea and now the tea was exactly right, and so were the biscuits or whatever they served with the tea, and it was “perfect” because they had, over the years, observed how much milk and sugar we liked, and experience taught them to be careful to not let the biscuits, (or whatever they served) get wet, and that was lovely. However, if they hadn’t improved we would have been disheartened. Nevertheless, there is nothing they could do now that would be more perfect in our sight than what they did that first time, and it lives forever in my memory and I’m sure in Audrey’s memory too, even though she is now in Heaven.

The above is a parable of the Christian life. When we first become Christians by accepting God’s forgiveness of our sin, (through what Jesus accomplished for us in giving His life as a “Ransome” for ours), we are then only “Babes in Christ” for starters, and endeavour to live a life pleasing to Him, but we will frequently make mistakes without meaning to. This is normal, and just as Audrey and I overlooked the mistakes our daughters made that morning and considered that what they had done was “perfect”, so it is that the Angels in Heaven and God Himself are delighted with our first efforts and see them as “perfect”. 

Of course, here again, if we are sincere we will study the Bible, (particularly the New Testament) and endeavour to correct any imperfections in our behaviour in order to show our love to God for all He has done for us, and also practice trying to “love our neighbour as we love ourselves,” as Jesus told us to.

If we make mistakes they are overlooked if we immediately ask for that forgiveness, because mistakes come from the entrenched bad habits we have acquired over the years and it can sometimes take a while to eliminate them from our behaviour patterns. As Paul (one of the greatest Christians ever,) said “not that I have already attained perfection, but I press on”.

but to deliberately sin and defy God’s directions is something different and would show that we didn’t get the message properly, so is not acceptable behaviour.

Of course, Christians don’t gain forgiveness and Salvation through good behaviour. Jesus earned that privilege for us by His sacrificial death and resurrection, but we are required (indeed it is our privilege), to endeavour to live lives that glorify God who has made it possible for us to inherit eternal life with Him, irrespective of how badly we may have sinned in the past.

Best wishes with that, Tom.