I Shall Not Be Moved | Yesterday Was Easy - Episode 10

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Just like a tree that's planted by the water, I shall not be moved. Welcome to Yesterday Was Easy.

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The line I just read is from one of my favorite hymns by Johnny Cash titled, I Shall Not Be Moved.

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Originally an African American spiritual, this song now resides in many church hymnals.

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There have been dozens of different verses added to it throughout the years, but one of my favorites is this.

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When my cross is heavy, I shall not be moved. When my cross is heavy, I shall not be moved.

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Like a tree planted by the water, I shall not be moved. I am declaring this to be the official hymn for Yesterday Was Easy.

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There are a number of reasons why, which I will now discuss. One, if you've been following this show and episode three titled,

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If You Faint, I discussed Christ setting his face like flint and taking up his own cross to do what needed to be done no matter the cost.

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When facing the suck, we need to be willing to take up our own crosses of responsibility and trudge ahead no matter the cost.

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When that cross is heavy, there is no whimpering allowed and failure is not an option. We shall not be moved.

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Secondly, you should also recognize that this is not the first time I have used the imagery of a tree planted beside some water.

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Just two episodes ago, in issue number eight, I quoted Captain America saying you should plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth and to tell the whole world, no, you move.

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I will not break that down again here, but if you need a refresher, just look up the episode titled,

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Don't Be Soft. Lastly, this song is based on four different passages of scripture.

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The first one is Psalm 1, 1 -3. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the

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Lord and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.

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Whatever they do prospers. Man, I love this passage. Do you want to be blessed? Don't walk in step nor hand in hand with the wicked.

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Don't stand with sinners. Don't sit with mockers. The Apostle Paul made it quite clear in 1

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Corinthians 15. Bad company corrupts good morals. We all know this.

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Yet, we are all guilty of falling into this trap at some point in our lives. Some of us more so than others.

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Now, who is the person who is like a tree planted by the water? The one who yields fruit, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers at whatever he puts his hand to.

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It is the one whom delights in God's law, meditating on it day and night.

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How shall we not be moved? By knowing and loving the law of God. The second passage is

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Psalm 16 .8. I have set the Lord always before me, because he is at my right hand,

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I shall not be shaken. Similar to not being moved is not being shaken. A tree with deep, healthy roots is not overly fazed by strong wind.

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It can easily withstand a storm. It is not easily shaken. So is the man who set the

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Lord before him in all that he does. If you are firmly planted on God's word and fix your eyes on Christ in every aspect of your life, you will be able to endure the trial that comes your way.

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The third passage is Psalm 121 .1 -4. It says, I lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come?

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My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved.

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He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

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Why will you not be moved? Because Jehovah, your Creator, will not allow your foot to be moved.

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And guess what? He neither sleeps nor slumbers. There is never a time nor a storm that he is asleep at the wheel.

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You will never go through a trial without him knowing nor proving of it. And the last passage is

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Jeremiah 17 .7 -8. It says, Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is in the

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Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes.

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For its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.

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Again, the blessed man is the one who trusts in the Lord. He is rooted in Christ, and he is watered by his word.

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When facing the suck, he is not anxious, but embraces it. He does not fear, because he knows where his nourishment and provision come from.

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He never ceases from producing good fruit, because he has been given a good root. Billy Graham once said,

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If your faith isn't rooted in the Bible, it will wither like a plant pulled out of the soil.

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If you are a Christian, the Bible is your objective standard of truth, morality, and ethics.

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It is the very words of God himself. If you are rooted in anything other than the

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Creator's breathed -out scripture, you will wilt. You will wither. You will be shaken.

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You will cease to bear fruit. You will fear the heat and be anxious for the drought. You will be pulled out of the soil, and you will be moved.

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What happens when a moving object, say a car for example, collides with a large, well -rooted tree?

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Who moves after the collision? It's not the tree, but the moving object. Sure, that tree may lose some bark and suffer some minor damage, but ultimately the tree is not shaken.

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The moving object takes the brunt of the impact, often ending in its utter destruction. Just like Captain America, the tree says,

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No, you move. Lastly, Johnny Cash was quoted as saying, I don't give up because I don't give up.

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I don't believe in it. Don't give up. Don't even believe in giving up. Don't fear the heat.

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Don't be anxious about the drought. As the saying goes, Never give up, never give in.

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And just like the tree planted by the water, when we are rooted in Christ, we should never move and neither shall we be moved.