The Axe & The Root

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Book of Matthew.

There must be a standard by which we are to formulate our lives by, a light to guide us, a tape to measure ourselves with, a scale to weigh the balances, a law to follow if we are to live life as opposed to destroying ourselves. That standard by which we are to live is the Word of God as revealed within the scrolls of life more commonly known as the Bible.

Therefore, thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His charge, and His statutes, and His judgements, and His commandments always. 

Book of Deuteronomy.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart.

Book of Psalms.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Book of Matthew.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. Book of 2 Timothy.

And behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Book of Revelation.

There are never-ending debates among theological groups as to which scrolls or as we know them today, books, should be added or subtracted from the current sixty-six. But I would be so bold as to say, let them stand as they are, for God is not a God of confusion, but of order, and this has been His way since the beginning of all things created. You can be sure that His Word as it now stands is what

He gave us, and anything more is from the minds and hands of men. There have been many “resurrected” manuscripts found, mostly in ancient dumps and rightly so. They were considered trash then, but now are held up as the newest additions to Biblical knowledge! Oh my, how the ears do indeed itch among the members of the itching ears club! And as a result, Bible revisions keep rolling off the presses, one watered down version after another as more tares are added to the wheat fields. And that is the purpose of the evil one, to distort the truth of God’s Word with more additional onion layers of theological postulations and deception. And the sheep bleat helplessly, not knowing which version and voice to trust. And they fall by the wayside, having forsaken the good path as they

are led along in complete Biblical ignorance. Quite a reversal from the Dark Ages of Europe so long ago, whereas the people hungered and thirsted for the Word and sought eagerly its treasures.

Today, people want to be spoon-fed and have their ears tickled and end up placing their souls in the hands of those who would lead them to the slaughter pens of perdition. The Word likens us as to trees, and the Word as an axe. And every tree that does not bear good fruit shall be hewn down and cast into the fire. We are also likened as to branches on the vine, and the withered branch which bears no

fruit shall be cast out with the brambles.

Again, as the tree that Jesus cursed, declaring from this day henceforth it shall not bear any fruit. That tree withered and died. The message is clear to those whose vision has not been stained with the cataracts of this world, whose ears have rejected the false teachers and their lies, and whose hearts cry out for forgiveness and a closer walk with the Master. The contrite heart seeks to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. The humble servant labors until called to rest. The repentant sinner, convicted of sin, turns to the only hope known, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Jesus came to call the sick, not the healthy. He did not come to condemn the repentant heart but to bring salvation and healing to the down-trodden ones. He did not accuse the adulteress but condemned her accusers for their hypocrisy, and in the process, He saved a soul from certain death. If we declare that Jesus has saved us from certain death, for the price of sin is death, then we are beholden to serve Him faithfully, but are we or do we merely make token attempts as we hide ourselves away in shame and in fear? Are we producing the fruits of a life led by the Holy Spirit or do we play yet in fields of sin? We know all too well what the works of the flesh are, it needs no description from me, but what does the Word have to say? And how do we stack up against the fruits of the Spirit?

Love in action.

Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law.

Book of Romans.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Book of Galatians.

We have the standard presented to us, and we have the choice to choose every day, every hour whether we will walk in the flesh or walk in the Spirit. We will stumble and even fall as we walk in the Spirit because we simply chose to take a detour into the realm of flesh. And we all stumble because we are in the flesh and not yet in the Spirit. Nonetheless, it is not given to us to excuse ourselves but

to repent and press forward. Which soldier in battle has never stumbled, or faltered, or feared or even turned back? But what made the difference was that that soldier made a determination

to get up and press on, putting aside his doubts and fears and took up the battle for which he was fighting for. And are we to do less? I think not.

Therefore, there remains no excuses to be offered in lieu of service to the Great King, the Shepherd of our souls! When, not if, but when you have stumbled, fallen and are in despair of the sins that seem to have overcome you, there is only one thing that matters, repent from the heart and accept that extended hand and get back upon your feet. There is a war raging about for the souls of men, and you

and I are called into battle, not the reclining chair, nor the beach towel, nor to hide among the wounded in fear.

Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth: and he that seeketh findeth: and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Book of Matthew.

Seek first the Kingdom of God, and what is this kingdom of God on earth but the fruits of the Holy Spirit, having nought to do with earthly treasures as some would boastfully claim. Seek His righteousness and serve the Great King faithfully in all that he calls you to do. Remember the disciples, and how fearful they were, but after receiving the Holy Spirit, they began to produce the fruits of the Spirit as they walked in faith and obedience. Are we to do less than they? But Jesus told us that we would do greater works if we remained in Him. And that implies walking in the Spirit and producing the fruits expected by being faithful stewards of all that He commands us to do. Life in the flesh makes it impossible to be perfect though we strive for it, but our imperfections are made perfect when we walk in love producing the fruits of the Spirit.

But for those who refuse to listen to the Lord and practice iniquity, there remains this sobering warning,

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

Book of Matthew.

I adjure you to commit yourselves wholeheartedly to the cause of Christ to which you were called to, and to repent of sins that keep you in desperate struggles. To hold firmly to the faith and to remain upon that Rock, which is Christ, and even though you may have slidden, He is more than able to rescue the drowning sinner when the heart cries out, please forgive me, and He is faithful and just, and

will restore you, again, and again, and again…

Love, when all is said and done, isn’t that what it's all about?

I remain a brother in the Lord Jesus Christ,

Edward L Ordway