We Move on the Street with the River and the Tree (2)
In the garden of Eden were both the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil, with the warning not to eat of the tree of knowledge (Gen. 2:9, 16-17). In contrast, New Jerusalem has only the tree of life.
When our living originates from our self, our old man, we are separated from God and that brings froth death. When our living is one with the Christ who lives within us, that is in life and brings forth more life. This is to walk on the golden street and have the river of life with the tree of life.
When the life within us generates the activity, the result will be the outflow of the river of the water of life in the Spirit. The outflowing of life is our street, our way. If the life of the Lord Jesus is not moving in us, we simply cannot walk….If, according to our own wisdom, we judge whether a certain way to act is good or bad, we are planting the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, not the tree of life. But if we act according to the moving of the life within, the result will be that the water of life will flow out to others.*
Paul told us in Philippians 1:20-21 that for him to live is Christ and that by this living Christ is magnified in him. This magnification is a flowing out of Christ which can be sensed by others. New Jerusalem will be the same except that all of us will be living Christ all the time and His magnification will be immensely greater.
* From chapter 5 of The Glorious Church by Watchman Nee, published and © by Living Stream Ministry, available at www.ministrybooks.org/ and www.livingstream.com/en/the-church/8012401-glorious-church-the.html.
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Posted by Don on August 26, 2022
