Mother's Day for our ministry has always been a special day. It is not only a day to bring forth the truth in God's Word regarding mothers and families, but also to believe and pray for those who wish to conceive a child. Many miracle children have come forth from this special Mother's Day ministry.
The importance of mothers can be found even in the beginning of scripture:
"And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden...and he (God) placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Gen 3:20-24
Adam called his wife "Eve" (Chavvah- life, living, life giver)., and "the mother (am-as the bond of the family) of all living (chay- to live)". Adam and his wife were forced from the garden in order to keep him from having access to the tree of life. It was not God's intention to give immortality to sin and its effect: death. However, God would not let them leave without his promise. Eve, though cast with her husband from the garden, would carry within her a promise of access once again to the tree of life. From her would come the miraculous seed (it is only men who produce seed) that would bring forth Messiah, the Resurrection, and the Life. It was that Word of prophetic promise that became the seed of the woman. Her seed would be born to bruise the head of the serpent who fathered the lie which questioned God's Word to man (Gen 3:15).
This tree of life is given to those who believe Christ. There is a condition placed upon access to it, though. Jesus spoke of this condition to the Church of Ephesus ("permitted"). To this church, the Lord had wonderful things to say, except for one thing:
"I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans ("conquer the laity"), which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise (park, enclosed garden) of God." Rev. 2:1-7
This church was doing so many things correctly, but there was an eternal life-giving force that was missing from all of their works, and all of their endurance in truth. That life-giving force, that "chay", pours forth from their first love (of Christ). This first love was their Tree of Life, from which they had grown apart.
So much of the church today has not been as faithful as the Church at Ephesus. They have, instead, compromised the truth of God's Word. They have followed after those false apostles and Nicolaitans who create doctrines in order to conquer the laity for their own greed. For those churches that have remained on the path of truth, patience, and the steadfast rejection of "them which are evil", have they forgotten their first love? If we repent and return to that first love, Jesus will give us to eat of that tree in the paradise of God.
That Tree of Life found in the paradise of God, which was always meant for our provision, is described for us:
"And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and of either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him. And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." Rev. 22:1-5
The Tree of Life, whether it is in the Garden of Eden, or in the paradise of God, grows from the first love that God has for us. The promise of access again to that Tree of Life was carried through the generations until Mary obediently and miraculously brought forth the Giver of Life, Jesus. This Tree of Life through Christ does not depend upon the seasons to bear fruit, nor the natural waters which can dry up, nor the sun to give it light.
Our access to this Tree of life and healing is given through our first love, as Jesus told the Church at Ephesus.
Revelation goes on to tell us in this chapter that Jesus is announcing to us repeatedly that He is coming quickly (v. 7, 12, 20). The Spirit and the Bride, and then those who hear, join together to agree and say to Jesus, "Come." (v. 17). The Bride's whole-hearted agreement with the Holy Spirit in our eagerness for Jesus to return to us, is the ultimate fruit of our first love. Then all who have thirst, whosoever will, may come to the water of life also and drink.
This Mother's Day comes with three challenges for those who are hearing this message:
Challenge 1- Repent, pray, and return to our first love.
Challenge 2- Determine not to be one who adds to, or takes away from, the Words of the Book (of life), as mentioned in Rev. 22 (v.18-19). Those who do so, will not partake in the Book of Life, nor the holy city, nor the promises found in the Book.
Challenge 3 (to mothers)- Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, and the salvation of Israel. Pray that mothers will be life givers, and the bond of the family, and not life takers, as is so often found in our society today. Pray for those who desire to conceive, but have not been able to.
Heavenly Father, we do not desire to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, by the washing of the water of the Word. Those of us who know You, desire to repent, and return to You, and to renew our commitment to our first love.
Father, let those who do not know You, and are hearing this message, be drawn by Your Spirit to discover if all of these things are true. Let them search the scriptures for themselves, and discover Your eternal truth and salvation for them in Jesus, Your Son, Who gave Himself for them.
Let those who desire to conceive, be blessed and touched by You. Let them know that the child they conceive is Your miracle answer to prayer. We ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen.
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