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God's Voice→Hear→Competing Voices    

Competing Voices

The one factor that makes hearing God’s voice most difficult is the noise of competing voices. We see this principle introduced in the Garden of Eden where there are two kinds of trees: Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

At  this point it is absolutely necessary to understand that this narrative does not refer to natural trees as is commonly assumed by people who interpret the Bible literally. Actually, the two trees are symbolic representations of two kinds of voices to whom people may listen.

  • The Tree of Life is a reference to God and true prophets who speak with God’s voice and authority.
  • The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is a reference to all false prophets who speak for themselves out of their own imaginations — not for God.

It is also absolutely necessary to understand that the fruit of these trees is not natural fruit (i.e. apple) as is commonly assumed by people who interpret the Bible literally. Actually, the fruit is spiritual fruit and there are two kinds of spiritual fruit. The fruit of the Tree of Life is good spiritual food.

 Good Spiritual Food

And the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is evil food which God forbade Adam and Eve to eat at the risk of death.

 Evil Soulish Food
  • Includes religious teachings, writings and activities that are conceived and implemented by men who practice and promote religious laws.
  • Is always served by false prophets.
  • Human wisdom.
  • Comes as fruit from Trees of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
  • Unclean animals.
  • Can be seen and heard with natural eyes and ears.
  • Can be produced, packaged, replicated, transported, bought and sold by anyone.
  • Is a source of spiritual death because it does not feed the spirit.
  • It tastes good and feels good while producing and consuming it, but it does not feed the spirit.
  • Only feeds the soulish flesh of men (i.e. it makes them feel good and righteous).
  • Is created by and served by false prophets and religious leaders for the consumption of religious people.
  • Is typically distributed commercially through some form of religion.
  • Always seeks to advance, protect and preserve religious interests — especially the interests of religious leaders.

Looking back at the creation story, we see that the New Covenant, is the renewal of the covenant relationship that existed before Adam and Eve ate the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The New, or more accurately “renewed” covenant was necessary because Adam and Eve, who had the perfect relationship with God, still chose to practice religion. It looked good to them so they tried it. But they did it at the cost of their perfect relationship with God (i.e. they died a spiritual death). The New Covenant, therefore, is the spiritual healing that results when man’s relationship to God is restored as prophesied by Isaiah. Here is a rough outline of what happened:

  1. Adam and  Eve sinned by eating of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (i.e. they chose the path of Defiled Religion instead of the righteous path of Pure Religion (i.e. The Tree of Life).
  2. God covered (i.e. forgave) Adam and Eve’s sin with the blood of the animal sacrificed to cover their shame.
  3. Ever since Adam and Eve, people have been predisposed to sinning by choosing sin.

 

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