Spring 2003
Two Ways
Wade E Taylor

“And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon Him
to hear the word of God, He stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
and saw two ships standing by the lake … and He entered
into one of the ships …” Luke 5:1-3a.

There are always “two ships” - His way and our way. These “ships” represent our lifestyle, which results from our submitting to the will of God, or choosing our own way. The Lord will only enter into one of these two “ways” of life. Thus, th e importance of the “choices” that we make.

These “choices” are a determining factor in our becoming an overcomer. This “overcoming” is not the result of something that we do. Rather, it relates to the “issues” of our heart, which determines our actions. Thus, the importance of the heart consecrations and commitments we make.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matt 5:3.

My being “poor in spirit” means that I have come to the end of my self-life. This means that I have placed myself, and all that relates to me, under the headship of the Lord. I are now subject to the government of God, and so long as I walk in submission and obedience, I am an “overcomer.”

I cannot obey the Lord, unless there is a choice that I must make (two ships). I can only obey when it is possible to disobey. Therefore, the Lord placed the need to choose in my path.

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, of every tree
of the garden you may freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge
of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of
it you shall surely die.” Gen 2:16 17.

The Lord God placed man in a probationary environment so he could be tested. Two “trees” (choices) were placed in the midst of his daily activities as the means by which this testing would be accomplished the "Tree of Life" and the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil."

These two trees are diversely different in their intent and purpose. Adam was told to freely partake of the one; but he was forbidden to eat of the other.

The “Tree of Life” related to the “spiritual-heavenly” life that Adam could live in union and dependence upon the Lord. He could only abide in the spiritual realm by partaking of the “Tree of Life” (Jesus) daily. This established his full “dependence” upon his Creator.

The “Tree of Knowledge” related to the “natural-earthly” life that the Lord had breathed into Adam, and afforded him the opportunity to become “independent” from God.

A description of the “Tree of Life” is found in Isaiah, chapter 53, which reveals that Jesus is the tree of life.

“For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root
out of a dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we
see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him.” Isa 53:2.

Jesus is seen by fallen mankind as having nothing that would (to them) make Him desirable. The beauty of Jesus is therefore within, and is recognized only through regeneration and Holy Spirit enabling.

The “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil” however, is quite different. It is pleasant to the eye, desirable as food, and really tastes good. In other words, the way of the flesh is attractive to every aspect of the fallen human makeup, whereas spirituality is (seemingly) uninviting.

It would seem that spirituality should have been made attractive and sin ugly. Therefore, we might ask, “Lord, why didn’t You make spirituality attractive, rather than our self-life? There is an answer. Because our being seated with our Lord on His throne is a high calling, is it gained only by our making choices. The Lord has not made this easy.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matt 22:14.

Or, “Few will pay the price in order to be chosen.”

By divine design, there is a “price” (a tested and proven overcoming quality) to being chosen by the Lord. Therefore, the Lord placed the beauty within. It can be seen only by a spiritual perception that is given only to those who truly desire Him. The tabernacle in the wilderness displayed ugly badger skins outwardly. But within was a beautiful royal blue covering, and His Shekinah presence. It contained a wondrous glory which cannot be described only experienced.

By divine arrangement, it takes a determined effort to press through to behold the beauty of the Lord. Few will push past the hindrances to gain this prize.

“I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3:14.

This prize is not heaven, which is included in our redemption. Rather, it this our being seated with our Lord on His throne.

“To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My
throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with
My Father in His throne.” Rev 3:21.

May each of us continue to “press” toward this prize, and rise above all that seeks to hinder, or turn us away from our being seated with our Lord as His Bride, an overcomer.

“But from the days of John the Baptist until now,
the Kingdom of the Heavens is taken by violence,
and the violent seize on it.” Matt 11:12 Darby.

We are making our choices now as to which ship we will be found in, in that day. May each of us choose rightly.