The Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
The Tree of Life was the symbol of God’s provision for immortality in the Garden of Eden. Of all the trees that were in the Garden of Eden, two were named for their great importance. “The Tree of Life,” was suppose to be a blessing to Adam and Eve and all of their posterity, and “The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil,” which became a curse to them.
And the LORD God make all kinds of trees grow out of the ground, trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, (Gen. 2:9 NIV).
God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden to give Adam and Eve a choice to obey or disobey Him. Though they were free to do anything they wanted, they were commanded not to partake of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
LORD God commanded the man saying, “Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die,” (Gen. 2:16-17 KJV).
There was nothing essentially evil about the tree or it’s fruit. Adam and Eve both intellectually knew the difference between good and evil because of God’s initial warning. By partaking of the fruit their eyes were opened to the true meaning of evil, and they actually experienced the shame of rebelliousness followed by the consequences thereof.
And the serpent said unto the woman, “Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil,” (Gen. 3:4-5 KJV).
The serpent’s deception included a grain of truth, but what he did not say was, that knowing evil would affect their relationship with God. Half-truths can be just as damaging as full-blown lies. As a result of their disobedience sin entered the world and we all are experiencing the negative effects of it.
By barring access to the Tree of Life, God showed compassion. He graciously limited the number of years men would live. To live in a sinful state of endless agony without any hope of relief was an unbearable state for man to remain in eternally. By limiting our lifespan, God has given us enough time to come to know Him and His provision for eternal life through Christ.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned. For it, by the tresspasses of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provisions of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Rom. 5:12a, 17 KJV).
Salvation is the free gift of God. Choose eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Blessings of love to you!
Jeanie Martin Ministries 