Cat Stevens: "King of Trees"

Did you ever have a tree which was special to you? One tree at Jericho Hill School for the Deaf and Blind was precious to me. I liked sitting in its branches, surrounded by its amber leaves. It was balm for my lonely soul. I felt heartbroken when the school cut it down to make way for a sunken garden.

Listen to this song about a special tree here:

Trees figure prominently in the Bible. For example, we know about the tree of good and evil which Adam and Eve ate of its fruit. What many believers don't know is the reason for keeping our federal parents from the tree of life.

Imagine the horror of living forever in a sin-cursed body. That's what God saved humanity from when he said in Genesis 3:22 (Bible in Basic English). "And the Lord God said, 'Now the man has become like one of us, having knowledge of good and evil; and now if he puts out his hand and takes of the fruit of the tree of life, he will go on living for ever.'"

Jesus likened us to trees in Matthew 7:18 (BBE) in regard to our conduct. "It is not possible for a good tree to give bad fruit, and a bad tree will not give good fruit."

We also see in Daniel 4:13 (BBE) how God gave Nebuchadnezzar a prophetic dream about a giant tree. "In the visions of my head on my bed I saw a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven, Crying out with a loud voice; and this is what he said: 'Let the tree be cut down and its branches broken off; let its leaves be taken off and its fruit sent in every direction: let the beasts get away from under it and the birds from its branches: But keep its broken end and its roots still in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass; let him have the young grass of the field for food, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his part be with the beasts.'" This was fulfilled when the King praised himself for making his great city.

A day will come when Christ perfects us and makes us fit for the new Jerusalem. As Revelation 22:14 (BBE) promises, "A blessing on those whose robes are washed, so that they may have a right to the tree of life, and may go in by the doors into the town."

If our blessed Saviour hasn't come for us by Monday, I'll show how cruelty can be kind.

Saturday Song: Cat Stevens, "Matthew and Son"

To some folks, "work" is a four-letter word. It's something we do to keep from starving. There are those blessed individuals whose work is a joy but the majority of humanity does it to earn a living.

This song by Cat Stevens is about work and its relentless grind. Listen to the song here:

I remember how shocked I felt when the school janitor told me and some other boys how fortunate we were to have two whole months off from school in the summer. Nobody warned us that adults only get two measly weeks for the whole year.

There was a long-ago time when work was a delight. God gave Adam the task of looking after the garden of Eden. He could work when he wanted to and he could eat the fruit from every tree except one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. He and Eve didn't have to worry about what to wear to work either.

Of course things changed once Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Genesis 3:17(BBE) tells us how Adam and his descendents were sentenced to hard labour. "And to Adam he said, 'Because you gave ear to the voice of your wife and took of the fruit of the tree which I said you were not to take, the earth is cursed on your account; in pain you will get your food from it all your life.'"

Even so, the Bible has much to say about hard work. Proverbs in particular lauds diligence. Proverbs 10:4 and 5 (BBE) is just one example of this. "He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth. He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame."

And if a person works well and skillfully, even government leaders notice it. Proverbs 22:29 (BBE)says, "Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons."

And as in the physical world, we must be diligent in spiritual things. Regarding the new heavens and the new earth, 2 Peter 3:14 (BBE) admonishes us, "For this reason, my loved ones, as you are looking for these things, take great care that when he comes you may be in peace before him, free from sin and every evil thing."

A day will come when we won't have to toil under the burning sun for sustenance. Revelation 22:5 (BBE) reminds us, "And there will be no more night; and they have no need of a light or of the shining of the sun; for the Lord God will give them light: and they will be ruling for ever and ever." What a hope that is!

On Monday, I hope to post about Why God wants mercy rather than sacrifice.

Saturday Song: Cat Stevens, "But I Might Die Tonight

This song is about the wisdom of not striving for a high position in a corporation. There's nothing bad in wanting that but it can be a trap where all your time is spent at the office or taking work home. Far too many men end up divorced because their god is their position rather than the Lord God Almighty.

Hear Cat Stevens' song here.

James sure nailed this presumptuous belief in his epistle. In James 4:13 and 14, (BBE) it says, "How foolish it is to say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go into this town, and be there for a year and do business there and get wealth:' When you are not certain what will take place tomorrow. What is your life? It is a mist, which is seen for a little time and then is gone."

This song also reminds me of Christ's parable of the rich farmer. This man had a bumper crop and decided to build bigger barns to store his grain in. Then he decided to relax and live off his bounty. Luke 12:20 (BBE) tells us what happened next. "But God said to him, 'You foolish one, tonight I will take your soul from you, and who then will be the owner of all the things which you have got together?'"

We North Americans tend to be self-reliant people. To appear needy is looked upon as a sign of laziness by some folks. But Jesus said in John 6:27 (BBE), "Let your work not be for the food which comes to an end, but for the food which goes on for eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you, for on him has God the Father put his mark."

What a relief it is that no matter how bad things get, we know that our Lord is watching over us.

On Monday, I'll post about working for our bosses as if they were Christ himself.

Saturday Song: Cat Stevens, "Moon Shadow"

When I first heard this song in 1971, I thought it was horrible. How could anybody be happy losing legs, vision, and teeth? Only decades later did I understand what Cat Stevens was singing about.

Listen to his song here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9c49aDWrzeA

Contrary to the views of charismatic Christians, God wants us to make do with what we have. Hebrews 13:5 (KJV) admonishes, "Let your conversation (lifestyle) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Furthermore, Paul was familiar with hardships. Even so, he wrote in Philippians 4:11 (KJV) that, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

But, As some might ask, shouldn't we pray without ceasing? Shouldn't we storm the gates of heaven with our prayers? Jesus told a parable about an unjust judge whom a woman harassed with her continual complaining for justice. Luke 18:6 and 7 (BBE) reads, "And the Lord said, 'Give ear to the words of the evil judge. And will not God do right in the cause of his saints, whose cries come day and night to his ears, though he is long in doing it?'"

That's true insomuch as it relates to trusting in the Lord for help. But some folks ask for what they covet. James 4:3 (KJV) notes, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

In the past, people have quoted James 5:15 (KJV) to me which reads, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

But if we are supposed to have enough faith, as the charismatic's claim, why couldn't Paul heal his friend? ((He wrote in  2 Timothy 4:20 (KJV) that, "Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick."

Clearly, this topic is one I feel passionate about. We don't always get what we want because the Lord is teaching us to rely upon him for what we need. I'm glad we don't always get what we want. God knows what's best for us, just like a loving parent gives only good things to their children.

On Monday, I'll post about what God has given us. We forget just how blessed we are.