The Tree Of Life
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, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he 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
(Genesis 3:22-24).
Thought For Today:
God's creation was very unique. The Bible lets us know, "Out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil"(Genesis 2:9). If we will notice the two trees spoken of here in the midst of the garden: The tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. These two trees represent two things. First, there is heaven, the tree of life, and second, the world, which is the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And it was the latter tree that God told Adam not to partake of. Some have asked, “Why?” Even though all the trees were pleasant to the eye and good for food, one had evil associated with it. You see, the world is pleasant to the eye, and it has many good things in it for us, but it also has much evil associated with it. Because most people lack the spirit of discernment, they cannot distinguish between good and evil. What they may think is good for them, they may soon discover is evil, and then it is too late. John tells us, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world" (1 John 2:15-16). Notice the three things associated with the world, which are the weapons of Satan. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eye, and the pride of life. Satan told Eve that she would not die if she partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, but that she would become a god, knowing good from evil. His statement was partially true. And partial truth is a lie. And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil. But he didn't say that she would become a god. Satan told Eve, You will become as gods. In other words, you will be able to decide for yourself. You will be able to make your own choices in life. You'll be able to do what you want. And we see the results of their decision to listen to Satan, through their disobedience today. Unless man is willing to take hold of the tree of life and live forever, God said he will die, both naturally and spiritually. The only hope for man today is Jesus, the Tree of Life. More and more are partaking of the forbidden fruit, and they are dying. We have received the charge from Him. "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:15-16). The gospel was designed to bring us all back to the Tree of Life that we may live. Are you doing your part?
