Throughout the Word of God, man is very often compared to trees. 

In the Old Testament, God warned His people repeatedly not to break the "covenant" He made with them:

"Keep therefore the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do" Deuteronomy 29:9. 

Since Christ came to the world and paid the ultimate sacrifice for all the sins of man, we have a "new covenant."  Yes, salvation is a free gift, Jesus, God's own Son, paid the price, so all the more we need to honor Him and walk in faith, not return to the filth and the mire God delivered us from. 

Many people in the world today trust that they can believe in Jesus, say a "sinner's prayer" and all sins are covered, past, present and throughout the future, so they just keep on sinning, and sinning and sinning some more.  However, Jesus died not only to cleanse us from sin, but He also died to "bring deliverance to the captives" Luke 4:18.  If you are saved, but still living in sin, you haven't accepted the "deliverance" that Jesus brought to the world.

The Word of God says,

"There is no temptation that has taken you, but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it" 1 Corinthians 10:13. 

This is the promise of God.  To deny it, is to call God a liar. 

Getting back to the trees; what kind of tree are you?  God said to keep the covenant, "unless there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood," Deuteronomy 29:18 (a diseased tree).

In verse 19, He went on to say,

"And it come to pass, when he hears the words of this curse, that he blesses himself in his heart, saying, 'I will have peace, though I walk in the imagination of my heart,' to add drunkenness to thirst." 

This man is lying to himself.  He wants to go his own way, do his own will, enjoy sin, but say to himself, "I will have peace."  Aren't many people doing the same thing today?  Will it work because Christ died for our sins?  Let's look at the Word of God for the answer.  The Bible says,

"If we sin willfully, after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice" Hebrews 10:26. 

In other words, Jesus died to cover our past and the present sin, but not future sins.  The Bible says, "My little children (he is speaking to Christians), these things I write to you, that you sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" 1 John 2:1.   

Jesus said to the church at Ephesus, "Remember therefore from whence you have fallen and repent, and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent" Revelation 2:5. 

If you examine the 2nd chapter of Revelation closely, you can see that the church at Ephesus "left their first love" and Jesus is warning them to repent.  So much for the doctrine of a "one time repentance."

The Word tells us further,

"He who despised Moses's law died without mercy under two or three witnesses, of how much sorer punishment do you suppose he shall be worthy to receive, who has trodden under foot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing and has done despite to the Spirit of grace?" Hebrews 10:28-29. 

Does this mean a Christian never sins again after receiving salvation?  Not at all, but there is a difference between falling, repenting and carrying on the good fight of faith; and willfully remaining in sin after the Lord has saved us and called us out of sin's bondage.  There is a difference.

I just learned today that the eucalyptus (cypellocarpa) tree is the most fire tolerant tree there is.  A fire can come along, burn it black and turn it into a black stick, but the roots of that particular tree store energy to aid in recovery and regrowth after a fire.  In fact, the roots shoot energy up through the entire black stick, of what remains of the eucalyptus tree, and you can see leaves growing out of the black stick, from the trunk to the very top.  It's truly amazing that there is still such life inside that dead stick of wood, but there is energy way down into the root of it! 

These trees do extremely well in gullies and near rivers.  How can we endure as the eucalyptus?  We need to stay very close to the river of life.  The river of life flows from God and it is a life-giving stream.  The closer you are to the river, the greater your endurance. 

The problem with many people starting out for God today is that they have a desire to be a Christian, but they aren't very interested in staying close enough to the life-giving stream in order to endure the fiery trials of this life.  God has made a way for our endurance, if we only take it. 

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.  His delight is in the law of the Lord and he meditates day and night in His law.  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, which brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf will not whither and whatever he does will prosper" Psalms 1:1-3.

Jesus said, "Now the ax is laid to the root of the trees, therefore, every tree which does not bring forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire" Matthew 3:10.

Are you prepared to stand before the Lord in judgment?  Are you living the life of a Christian (one who follows Christ), or the life of one who "says the name of Christ?"  There is a difference.  Jesus also said, "This people draws near to me with their mouth and honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me" Matthew 15:8. 

Jesus said, "The Spirit and the bride say, Come.  And let him who hears say, Come.  And let him that is athirst come.  And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" Revelation 22:17. 

The water of life issues forth from the Word of God.  Delight yourself in His Word.  Study it, feast upon it, refresh yourself daily and come to know the Truth, the Peace, and the Giver of Life.  "Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart" Psalm 37:4.  God bless you.

If you aren't saved, won't you receive the Lord as your Savior today?  Please visit the How Can I Be Saved page.  Your eternal destiny depends on it.  God bless you.