360 Degrees, 365 Days Forever

UV3415/10000 360 Degrees, 365 Days

So God drove the man out; and at the east end of the Garden of Eden He permanently stationed the cherubim and the sword with the flashing blade which turned round and round (in every direction) to protect and guard the way ( entrance, access) to the tree of life.

Genesis 3 v 24

God restored the tree of eternal life and our access to it with the coming, death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus laid down His own body as the way to eternal life. What Adam and Eve lost in the Garden of Eden, Jesus restores to us in the Garden of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane and on Golgotha. The cross He carried and ascended symbolizes the dead tree of sin on which all our shortcomings are nailed and paid for. We have access to Jesus and eternal life all the time. He sends His angels to guard us. God now welcomes us as His chosen and faithful ones to His very bosom. There is no longer separation or distancing of man from God. We are in His presence all the time. We enjoy love and fellowship with the Tri-une God. The sword with the flashing blade which turned in 360 degrees, in every direction is a metaphor for the Word of God. It can help us deal effectively with every threat and temptation, internal and external, spiritual and human.

Since we have access to the tree of eternal life, we are now expected to draw nourishment from the Word, the river that nourishes our very roots and supplies all the minerals and nutrients needed. We are rooted in Christ and grow in Him, to produce the fruit of the spirit- the results or evidence of eternal life of increasing selfless love, abounding joy, deep seated peace, growing patience with those who have not yet tasted eternal life, kindness to all, especially the poor and needy we encounter in our daily lives, manifesting the inherent goodness of God to all, faithfulness in all circumstances, humility to acknowledge and depend on God at all times, self discipline. Instead of the forbidden fruit of disobedience, faithlessness that makes God out to be a liar, deception, lust and pride, we now both enjoy and produce an abundance of spiritual fruit worthy of God.

We have returned to the Father like the chastised repentant prodigal son. Instead of punishing us and holding us responsible for our past misdeeds, the Lord in His love embraces us, accepts us as we are. He honours us with His ring of authority, His robes of salvation, His crown of grace, His shoes to go places on His behalf as His messenger. He makes our lives a celebration of joy and victory. The Father sends us His Spirit, His Word as the flaming revolving sword and His angels to guard and keep us from further wilful error or attacks of the enemy of our souls. Our own faith is our shield, implying that how we use and exercise our faith in the Word affords us protection.