Trees of God

It is an amazing walk from the little town of Bethany around the bottom of the Mount of Olives and up to the Temple. Although it is less than two miles you experience the feelings of a lifetime, as if Jesus were walking the dusty road with you. It is possible that the greatest events in history are part of this small road. Jesus walked part of this road when he entered Jerusalem to die for the sins of the world. Someday Jesus will return to stand on the Mt. of Olives and look across this road at the Temple Mount. This little road is there today if you want to walk on it. One of the very impressive things you notice along this road are the different trees at various places. It seems that God has preserved them. One olive tree beside this road is nearly two thousand years old and is an offspring of the original tree that Jesus sat under. This road used to pass through the Garden of Gethsemane which has many olive trees.

Josephus recorded that when the Romans attacked Jerusalem in 70 A.D. they cut down every tree in this valley. But in time the trees returned by coming up from the roots that were still in the ground. The same olive trees are now in the garden where Jesus prayed so many times beside this dusty road. The city was under siege for two years and the Romans did not want the Jews sneaking in or out. Eventually the city fell from hunger and the Romans tried to remove all traces of the Jewish civilization including the Temple. If you continue walking along the road toward Bethany there is a large group of fig trees along the creek down in the valley below. We know that one tree is missing today because Jesus cursed it and it died. As they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Mark 11:20 Jesus would have climbed down from the road to the tree but upon arrival He found nothing on the tree.

Some other interesting trees are in Bethany. The front yard of the house where Jesus stayed with his friend Lazarus is full of trees. (See John 11 and 12) Sometimes Jesus taught parables referring to the tiny mustard seeds that are in little pods all over the ground in this yard. He said the kingdom of God was like, a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches. Luke 13:19 Even today you can sit in the front yard of Lazarus under the mustard trees and listen to the many birds singing their songs. Many years ago the beautiful tree of life was removed from the earth because of our sinful ways. But the eternal kingdom of God is growing on the earth and it will not be long until we are removed from the earth to live forever with that tree of life.

Somehow God’s trees have returned to Israel after years of barrenness. We know that Israel itself is returning so that all the end time prophecies can be fulfilled. God has the power to restore anything. Do you need restoration of your spiritual life? Repent and ask God for help.

I Did It

God has always had this problem with His children. Usually when He does miracles on earth somebody will take the credit for themselves. This seems to be a habit that has been with us for a long time. The Lord has many ways to deal with this problem and we are told about one of His ways in the Old Testament. 5 That is why I revealed to you what would happen long ago. I told you about them before they happened. {I did this} so you couldn't say, “My gods have done these things. My carved idols and my metal idols have commanded them to happen.” 6 You've heard these words. Now look at all this. Won't you admit it? Isaiah 48:5 If you go to Israel today and interview the older people they will tell you that they are the ones who rebuilt the Nation. If you point out that God had everything recorded that he would do thousands of years ago they just stare at you. They are saying this because they have no real faith in God.

There is one place where Israel honors God on a huge rock in the middle of the city square. It is in a town that Israel never possessed before 1948. The word of the Lord is against you, Canaan, the land of the Philistines: “I will destroy you so that no one will be living there.” 6 The seacoast will become pastureland with meadows for shepherds and fenced-off places for sheep. 7 The coast will belong to the faithful few from the nation of Judah. There they will graze their sheep. In the evening they will lie down in the houses of Ashkelon. The Lord their God will take care of them and will restore their fortunes. Zeph 2:5-7 Ashkelon is a thriving Jewish city today and this passage is chiseled in the rock for all to see. Visitors can walk among the ruins of the old Philistine City and see their pillars and walls lying on the ground. There is no trace of the Philistine people today because God destroyed them.

Jewish people usually say that they have rebuilt Israel without God. Are we any different when we talk about building our lives? Many times we will minister to others by asking for God to help us but when it is all over we humbly take the credit. The truth is that if the Lord does not give us another breath we cannot exist to do anything. We must never take credit for the life God has given to us.  In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.1 Thes 5:18 A person of real faith will say “thank you” for every single thing in their life. This will be honoring God and gives Him proper credit. In fact this is the definition of a life of faith. We should look to God every moment of every day.