The Tree of Life

A few months ago I blogged regarding Genesis and I would like to do a follow-up. Genesis 2:8&9 states: "The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 9 Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Were you aware that the "tree of life" was also in the middle of the Garden with the "tree of knowledge of good and evil?"

I would like to bring to your attention what God told Adam specifically. Eve was not yet present. Gen 2:6 "The LORD God commanded the man, saying, "From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; 17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat , for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die." God never told Adam not to eat from the "tree of life." He could eat from that tree freely.

Chapter 3:1-3 "Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Indeed, has God said, 'You shall not eat from any tree of the garden'?" 2 The woman said to the serpent, "From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat; 3 but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, 'You shall not eat from it or touch it, or you will die.' " God did not speak directly to Eve. He spoke to Adam and mentioned a specific tree that he was not to eat from--"the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." Did Adam give Eve incorrect information????? Interesting question isn't it???? Look at her response to the serpent.

4 The serpent said to the woman, "You surely will not die! 5 "For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Do you realize that the Serpent pointed Eve away from the "tree of life." What else can you expect from Satan. His desire is to steer you away from what is good for you. He intentionally led Eve to eat from the "tree" that God commanded not to eat from. Satan was on His vocation as the Father of lies. He knows how to tell half truths and misquote God's Words and intentions. He is crafty. His job is to cause us to reconsider what God says.

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. All of a sudden Eve begun to see the tree differently. JUST like sin today. Contrary to what you may believe, Sin always looks good. But it is against God's command. PLEASE note that Adam was with Eve and that he did not REMIND her of what God had told HIM, nor did he correct the lie of the Serpent. Do you stand by and allow a lie to be told about God's Word and say nothing?????

I know that most of you know the rest of the story well, but do you???? Look at what God says as to the reason why He put Adam and Eve out of the Garden.
Genesis 3:22 "Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil; and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever"— 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life.

Many of us concentrate on the lie of the Serpent regarding the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil," but let's look at the choice that Adam and Eve made. God had commanded Adam to eat from every tree including the "tree of life" but instead they chose to disobey God and listen to a lie. It was their choice. As a result of their disobedience God prevented them from eating from the "tree of life" which would have allowed them to live forever.

These are choices we make everyday. We make choices contrary to what God has commanded us. We ignore what the Word of God says and listen to the lies of the world. How can we read the about Adam and Eve and not learn that God is not pleased when we disobey Him? He does punish disobedience. I am thankful to report the He does not give us what we really deserve. He gives us GRACE and MERCY. He does however have the right to do whatever HE wants to do to us, because HE created US. We must understand that the Words in the Bible are not OLD or NEW it is GOOD!!!!!!! The Bible teaches that "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:16-17)

The "tree of life" is never mentioned again until the book of Revelation. "Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations ." (Rev 22:1-2) Until there is a new heaven and a new earth (Rev. 21:1-2) the "tree of life" will not be accessable to man. If you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savoir, you will see the "tree of life," if you don't, you will never see the TREE of LIFE. Trust Him today.

Blessings.