THEME: THE DECEPTION OF HUMAN AMBITION VS. THE RESTORATION OF THE STAR NATION 

The challenges of life are immense. The struggles for position, space, and direction within the crowd can be very overwhelming. When time is added, life becomes a very difficult task indeed.  In fact, the very gifted—those born in fortune or those upon whom fortune smiles and all face life with apprehension in varying degrees. All people struggle to meet demands and expectations of self, family, kinsmen, friends, and community. Likewise, Peoples, tribes, and nations have great hopes and thus, expectations from citizens and strangers alike. 

There is, however, one critical thing: these expectations have no one measure, nor guiding light, and no common destination. Thus, those who add fame to fortune in life pursuits face unusual and often surmountable challenges. 

These notwithstanding, many desire, claim, go out for and indeed work strenuously to have access to The Tree of Fortune.  We do not need to take note of or count the cost and casualties on the way.  It may be necessary to mention nevertheless, in passing that the search for fortune can lead to frustration, failure, destruction, and death on the way, or even when access is gained to The Tree of Fortune. 

The reality, though, is that the challenges and dangers connected with The Tree of Fortune have not deterred folks in the search for fortune.  The Tree of Fortune has in fact become very attractive in what the Bible describes as the ‘dying and perishing world’ in the ‘broad way’ of life. Men lust, work, kill, destroy— and stretch themselves for fortune. They seek and clamor for life, success, and power: the power to possess and hold gain, position, and space; the power to control means, materials, peoples, and territories; and the power to dominate the minds, hearts, spirits, and lives of men and creation. 

Lucifer wanted to be God and take over heaven; for this, he was cast out. Similarly, Adam and Eve desired to be God, with power to hold and control the earth and creation by themselves for themselves, with no responsibility to receive direction from, worship, and serve God. They wanted to do their own business without God who gave them charge over same.  So, Lucifer deceived one-third of angels in heaven. They fell together as ‘Cast Out’ and ‘Fallen Angels’—Lucifer and the fallen angels are deceiving men and women promising them power, position, and access to The Tree of Fortune. 

It is through this phenomenon of satanic deception and exploitation of human weakness, fear of death, and this challenges in life as well as the lust for power, position, and fortune that many have fallen victims to the destruction and death, everlasting chains, and damnation. 

It is sad in this respect that the gifted of men and women endowed with natural talents, spiritual gifts, abilities, and opportunity for the service of God and fellowmen and the rest of creation from perversion, dastardly works, and destruction have fallen prey to satanic deception and human desire to be God and hence, lust for power, position, and fortune.  Many have turned the calling and gifts of God to the service of themselves and worse still for the exploitation, oppression, and destruction of fellow human beings and creation. Ultimately, they perpetuate a Satan-man alliance in rebellion and disobedience against God and the rejection of the knowledge and true worship of the Creator. 

In today’s world, fortune—measured by wealth, power, possession, and territories—has become the measure of success and life.  It is sad to observe in this respect, that the three most blessed among men have become preys and perpetuators of the Satan-man wicked alliance world against God and man. 

There are preachers, ministers of Christ, and supposed professors and proponents of Christ, the Christian Faith, and the Kingdom of God on earth who have made the Tree of Fortune their goal, their message, and their lives. 

Similarly, there are academicians and intellectuals—including teachers, professionals, and executives—who have turned against God and the knowledge and worship of Him.  They have proposed philosophies and theories of human independence and security, self-redemption, self-gratification, and self-glorification. In many cases, they have not only made self-gain and fortune their goal in life, but they have come to worship them. 

However, much learning and’ much knowledge’ often breed pride, haughtiness, vainglory, and destruction.  As the Scripture warns: 

“For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow. And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 1: 18; 12: 12 NKJV) 

The next group is comprised of kings, rulers, and politicians.  Generally speaking, kings are born and placed in authority and power.  Fortune smiles upon them at birth and continues to do so throughout their lives. 

It is a truism that fortune can—and does—deceive, seduce, and destroy weak spirits, weak hearts, and weak minds. It also leads to the pursuit, increase, and extension in power and territories, gain, and fame.  In so doing, it exposes the soul to perversion, robbery, oppression, and wickedness.  

Consequently, kings, rulers, and politicians fall prey to Lucifer, fallen angels, demons of power brokers and dealers, principalities, and powers that run and control the world under Lucifer. Kings, rulers, and politicians in search for power and fame fall prey to false prophets and false teachers, of the Satan-man rebellion-disobedience order in the world.  Fetish priests, prophets, and seers including bankrupt, philosophers, and religious gurus of diverse kinds, all of whom deal in the game of gain and fortune, power, position, and fame.  They become agents of Satan and human wickedness. 

Furthermore, there are academicians, philosophers, and theorists of human ego and glory outside God such as atheists, deists, and humanists including proponents of science.  Kings, rulers, and politicians whose goal and life are of The Tree of Fortune have no regard for God, the human soul, and sacredness of life. They care little about peace, righteousness, justice, love, freedom, and liberty for and among men. 

THE TREE OF LIFE 

Against the Tree of Fortune and the challenges and dangers connected therewith, there is the Tree of Life which is of God.  It assures and promotes Love of God and eternal life.  It is attained through love, obedience, and worship of God, sacrifice, and service in the love of fellow men and life based on the cross. It promotes peace and righteousness. It blesses, pleases, exalts, and honors God and gives God the Creator glory in all things. There is true fortune, gain, and happiness to be found in righteousness; it brings peace, tranquility, and rest in the human soul, justice, freedom, and liberty in society, progress, prosperity, happiness, and joy to peoples and nations. 

Hence, the Bible counsels us declaring: 

 “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people (Proverbs 14: 34)”  

The Most High God directs humanity through Jesus Christ His Son given—our God, King, Lord, Master, and Judge that we should not vex our souls over The Tree of Fortune. 

“But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV) 

The Spirit of God has directed people who have gained riches and access to The Tree of Fortune saying: 

“But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the Love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6: 9-10, 17 &19 NKJV) 

Dear reader, the woe of this age is the desperate craze for riches, wealth, power, position, and fame.  Much evil and harm have been done; many have fallen victims to the claims of The Tree of Fortune—oppressors and the oppressed alike. 

We pray that parents, teachers, public servants, and professionals—along with bankers, and business men and women, will assist and serve society well by heeding the counsel of God on The Tree of Fortune and lead children and youth, people, and business practice and social order away from the falls and craze with the love of money, gain, and fortune under The Tree of Fortune. 

Furthermore, the Bible enjoins all particular children of God to seek to build society afresh, save the captives, perishing and lost from the desolations of the ages.  They shall be called Trees of Righteousness, Priests of the Lord and Servants of God (Isaiah 61: 1-6).