The Tactics of Knowledge
Around the turn of last century (circa 1903) Arthur Tappan Pierson (an American Presbyterian pastor) wrote of the dire tactics from the Tree of Knowledge to suppress the knowledge from the Tree of Life (but he did not write in these terms). He penned:
The most alarming peril of today is naturalism - the denial of all direct divine agency and control. Science is uniting with unbelief, wickedness and worldliness, scepticism and materialism, to rule a personal God out of the universe.
The Tree of Knowledge (science in Pierson's quote) has regularised knowledge and controlled its access. Eating its fruit stands bold at life's center stage. The Tree of Knowledge offers rewards (with implied guarantees such as security and jobs) to the diligent, and honors those it deems as successful. The Tree of Knowledge robs mankind of the fruit from the Tree of Life.
In contrast the Tree of Life is as a spirit moving through the forest, it goes where it wills without any control from man. The Tree of Life is the divine counsellor who offers no bribes, and guides to all truth.
The Tree of Life cannot be regularised by men, and itself offers no praise of man before fellow man. It honors humility and the hidden, not the proud and the loud.
The Tree of Knowledge creates students of men's minds.
The Tree of Life invites students to Heaven's mind.
But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)
Beware of the unfettered love of knowledge, for in pursuing it alone righteousness is not found, truth is clouded and wisdom is not met. (N.B. abundant knowledge does not equate to wisdom.)
In contrast the Tree of Life promotes righteousness, opens Heaven's vaults of truth, and wisdom is received.
But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth. (John 16:13a)
For those who would be of a unique value to the Lord, this axiom remains:
that which man esteems - God passes by.
Today's Soul Snippet:
Those who seek to be unique to the Lord, will also be unique to men.
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