Flaming Swords and Spiritual Laundry

Lately I just can't escape the pictures at the beginning and end of the scriptures. Everything in between is anchored by those visions, the park in Eden and the final vision of John of the throne and Paradise itself. Can you sense the Spirit pulling you toward the throne? Are you drawn to the Tree of Life like no other food? Sometimes it almost hurts, the way I want to eat that fruit. To satisfy that hunger at the core of my soul. I can sense it, growling behind my conscious mind, needing the sustenance of eternal life.

What does this mean for us practically? God placed that hunger in you and me for a reason. It is a desire born of the Spirit, not of our natural being. Your self preservation alarm will go off when you seek that fruit. Parts of your soul (those unrefined, imperfect bits) will be agitated by that hunger. This means that to get the eternal sustenance, we will require help at times. First let's look at what is guarding that source of eternal life.

After Adam and Eve decided to judge for themselves whether God's word was true, they were removed from the garden. Here is where it happens:

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden the Cherubim, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

So the path to the tree has a flaming sword that turns every way. The picture itself seems impenetrable, and very foreboding. What is this flame? What is this sword? Well, God has provided for us the Spirit, which leads us in knowledge and wisdom. With that guidance see if the following resounds in your heart.

The piercing flame is emanating from Jesus eyes in John's vision. Also, by the words of John the Baptist, Jesus will baptize us in the Holy Spirit and in fire. When that first baptism occurred, tongues of fire were seen among the gathered disciples. The sword Jesus refers to directly when he declares that he came not to send peace, but a sword. Paul describes the sword of the Spirit as the word of God. The same sword appears in John's vision as a sharp two edged sword proceeding out of Jesus mouth.

If that doesn't kindle something in your heart, ask God for a vision of Christ, He is faithful to our requests. For myself this creates awe and amazement. My natural mind wants there to be a giant Cherubim, with thundering, stomping feet and misty smoke covering the ground. And a huge spinning hovering sword slashing through the air. The real thing is even better! It is the Living Word of God!

God doesn't protect the source of eternal life with a giant robot, or huge gate, or anything else from my imperfect imagination. The path is guarded by the the living, breathing Word. Oh how we need to hear that voice! We need to be the body that speaks that Word! Open our eyes Lord!

Now, I want to see the spiritual reality, this is but a glimpse. The vision is there, and to see it we must walk in it. But back to the practical side, what about the fruit? We have seen the path to the tree, how do we go in and eat? Again in John's vision we have the simplest of answers:

Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.

Simply wash our robes, do our spiritual laundry, and a blessing we receive plus the right to enter in by the gates and come to the tree of life. Oh how wonderful is this! There is no huge mystery to solve, no special requirement. Four years of seminary doesn't get you through the gates. You can't tithe your way in, do enough good works to get in. Nothing exclusive, religious, sacrificial... nothing gets you in apart from clean robes.

OK, what does that mean? These garments we wear spiritually? There are many robes man can wear. In the physical realm robes signify wealth, importance, purity, many different things. Kings of men wear robes, priests in religious organizations wear robes. They are also practical in hot climates to remain cool, hence the traditional clothing of choice in the Middle East, from ancient times to today.

Spiritually we may have garments of praise, of worship. Our robes signify that we are saints of the Living God, not saints decided by man, by saints in spiritual reality. Saints in the body of Christ.

How then do our robes become soiled? It is inevitable, you will get the gunk of the world on you. The dust of your walk will darken your hem. A stain of offense, a smear of jealousy. Lustful ring around the collar. Smears of gossip. Grass stains when you tripped on this or that. Anything that impacts your spirit will show up. If it's not born of the Spirit, it needs some holy bleach. And God has provided the cleanser.

Under the old dispensation, the one God made with the Hebrews, the priests made the offerings to God. This was a bloody job, and they would become splattered with the blood of the sacrifice. This blood signified the innocent life offered as a substitute for the sin of man. We have a more prefect sacrifice, and that blood is what cleanses us. Our robes are made white by it.

Doing your spiritual laundry is simple, search your heart, confess your mistakes, your sins, your imperfect nature. Then claim Jesus blood over all, stand up, walk through the gates and up to the tree. Grab hold of the fruit and eat. Get more Life! When you put on those clean robes, nothing stands between you and the throne. Worship God with all your heart. Turn your mind towards Him. Let Him open up your eyes to see the glory.

Thank you Lord for the Word of Life! Let every reader recieve a special anointing to get in and eat. Forever will I praise you!