‘Those who are planted in
the house of the LORD…Shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still
bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing, (Psalm 92:13, 14).
The Bible in Basic
English translates Psalm 92:13 as ‘Those who
are planted in the house of the Lord will come up tall and strong in his
gardens,’ and this translation paints a magnificent picture about Adam and Eve
in the Garden of Eden. ‘The word Eden in the Hebrew language and in scriptures
refers to the place of God’s presence’ (Isaiah 51:3, Eze 28:13 - Dr Myles
Munroe). God planted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden - His very presence,
and because they were in His presence, they were continually empowered to reign
in life. In His presence the only option they had, was to be fruitful,
multiply, replenish the earth and exercise dominion over all of God’s creation.
Moses understood the power
of being planted in the presence of God. So he said to God, if Your presence
does not go with us, do not send us out of here’ (Exodus 33:15). In the
presence of God there is peace, joy, liberty, rest and all that one needs for
life and godliness. Like a planted tree gets its nourishment from the nutrients
in the soil, so does man get his strength from his relationship with God. The
woes of Adam and Eve began immediately after they sinned. Now when God was
drawing close to them, they were running from His presence. Finally they had to
be banished from the Garden of Eden (the presence of God) because of their sins
(Gen 3:8, 23, 24).
Now, through Christ all men
have been reconciled to God, but each one has an individual responsibility. You
can either choose to be planted in the house of the Lord or not. You can be
restored by believing in Christ, repenting of your sins and beginning a
relationship with Him, or keep running away from Him to your own detriment.
Today, many are still running away from God, even though God is running to
them. They have magnified the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh
and pride of life above God. They are chasing after the wind and seeking for
some joy and fulfillment they never find. The truth is only Christ can fill the
emptiness in man.
Others have also become
frequent visitors to the house of the Lord. But ‘God is interested in those who
are planted in His house, not just visitors who only come to His house or
presence when they are in need’ (E. A. Adeboye). The truth is, no one can fool
God. God cannot be mocked; a man reaps what he sows. God’s promise to you is,
‘I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them,
will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does
not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such
branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my
words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be
granted!’ (John 15:5-7)
Regardless of your sex, age
or race; fruitfulness in life is a must, as long as you remain in God by
seeking Him with all your heart and obeying Him. Do you think that it is too
late to be used of God? ‘The last days of the saints are sometimes
their best days, and their last work their best work’ (Matthew Henry). All you
need to do is to be planted in His house and your fruitfulness will be a
surety.
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