Is Your Family Tree a Tree to Life

With all the turmoil, uncertainly, and chaos in the world today it can be challenging to keep a focused mind and a settled spirit. Some folks try to hide in ignorance - choosing to play ostrich and stick their heads in the sand, some strive to try to predict the future - as if they can know what Jesus has already said no one but YHWH knows (beware of these false teachers):

But as for that day and hour no one knows it - not even the angels in heaven - except the Father alone.

(Matthew 24:36)

Still others, I include myself here, find solace in drawing closer to YHWH as best we can. One way to do this is the study of our multifaceted roots, our beginnings, as gentile worshippers of YHWH. On one hand we began like all men - we were created by YHWH; and, we all trace our lineage thru Noah to Adam. But, YHWH’s first chosen people - the “root stock”, include Israel in their line, gentiles do not.

The descendants of Israel are still YHWH’s chosen people - the covenants He made are everlasting. Gentile worshippers of YHWH have not replaced the chosen people of YHWH; rather, Jesus told us we are made, thru Him, a part of the flock of Israel:

And I have other sheep which are not of this fold. I must also lead those, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock, one Shepherd.

(John 10:16)

Gentiles worshippers of YHWH can be, in essence, grafted into the family tree of Israel; but only if we remain obedient and fruitful (John 15). Today, many “Christians” act as though they were the only chosen people of YHWH. These same “Christians” have a family tree leading to roots found among the pagan gods of Rome, not YHWH and the nation of Israel. That is why the “family tree” of “Christianity” looks more like the evolutionary tree of Darwin! That tree comes from Pagans, Paul and the Popes, not YHWH and His Prophets, or Christ and His Apostles.

Everyone needs to learn their family tree - or you may be barking up the wrong tree:

Not everyone saying to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but those doing the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many works of power? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

(Matthew 7:21-23 -- reference: Psalms 6:8)

          As James told us:

But someone will say, you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works.

(James 2:18)

                    For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so

                    also faith without works is dead.

(James 2:26)

          Do your roots lead to the tree of life? You must be doing the will of YHWH and not just believing:

The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.

(Revelation 2:7)

Blessed are the ones doing His commands, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and by the gates they may enter into the city.

(Revelation 22:14)