The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life s ONLY mentioned in Genesis, in the second chapter of the very first book of the Bible; and in the last chapter of Revelation, the final book of the Bible. The Tree of Life provides <BOOKENDS> to the entire Bible. For that reason alone, it’s worth taking a look at what The Tree of Life represents.
In the first chapter of the Bible, after God created everything, including humans, He says it was very good, not just good but VERY GOOD.
Genesis 1:31 (KJV) And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good…
He then goes on to talk about the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Genesis 2:9 (NIV) The LORD God made 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.
It is clear, both trees were very close to each other.
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Genesis 2:15-16 (KJV) And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
It’s logical to assume, if Adam and Eve were presented with the two trees to eat from; and they were side-by-side; and they were going to live forever, that they would first eat of the Tree of Life. I don’t think there’s anything excluding the possibility they both ate from the Tree of Life first.
The Tree of “Evil”
We could also say the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, right next to the Tree of Life, could actually be called the “Tree of Evil” (artistic license ). We’ve established everything God created was already very good. That means Adam and Eve were, very good. They only knew good, they were naïve and ignorant about evil. Maybe, this is one reason why the devil tricked Eve so easily. We could literally say this tree was only the Tree of the Knowledge of Evil, since they only knew good up into that point, that is why I call it the “Tree of Evil.”
This brings up an important point for Christians, we need to keep and maintain our innocence. There is no need for us to explore the reasons for sin, or to understand what causes it. It’s OK to be naïve about these things, remember, we should be as wise as serpents, and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16).[1] there is nothing wrong with being naïve, or pretending to be naïve about evil and sin, we should not try to explore it. Remember the spirit is a stronger force than logic, or emotions. Flee from evil, do good, and submit yourself to God.
James 4:7: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
“You Are Banished”
Regarding the Tree of Life, something interesting happens after Adam and Eve sinned when they ate from the “Tree of Evil,” and their eyes were opened to evil. God says they now have become like God and the Angels, knowing both good and evil. If they ate of the Tree of Life (Again?) they would live forever in that sinful state. In other words, mankind could never be redeemed. So God banished them from the garden, preventing them from eating from the Tree of Life again, and not live for ever. This paved the way for the ultimate redeemer of Mankind, Jesus Christ!
Genesis 3:22-23 (NIV) 22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.” 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden…
Adam and Eve became like God and the Angels in terms of knowing good and evil, but not having the proper ability, via the Holy Spirit, to deal with evil, they were banished.
The Water of Life – Living Water
The Tree of Life makes its only other appearance in the last chapter of the Bible. However, I want to first talk about the Water of Life. Jesus speaks about this to the woman at the well, calling it “Living Water.” He was talking about the Holy Spirit. The same Holy Spirit that Adam and Eve lost.
John 4:10 (NLT) Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”
Jeremiah also spoke about the spring of living water God has available for us.
Jeremiah 2:13 (NIV) 13 “My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.
But in Revelations, this Living Water is called the Water of Life. It is a river, fed by a fountain from behind the thrones of God and Jesus.
Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV) 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month…
This is a very intimate and touching image of God, as shown in Revelation. Picture the water coming from behind the thrones of God and Jesus, flowing over just their feet. It then goes through the center of the great street and in middle of the street is the Tree of Life.
Where Do the “Water of Life” and the “Tree of Life” Get Their Power?
The Tree of Life is being fed by the Water of Life, which is flowing from behind the thrones of both God and Jesus (see photo above). The water is actually flowing over both of their feet. In Biblical times, the feet were one of the least revered parts of the body, and were considered low in status. People’s feet got dirty very easily, since the streets were filthy and the ground was dusty.
In the last chapter of Revelations, the river is flowing over what would be considered the lowly parts of God’s and Jesus’ body, their feet. Yet, it is their feet that give the power to the Water of Life that feeds the Tree of Life. This tree will provide eternal life to all those Christian’s and others that will live forever.
God is saying, it is just a lowly part of His and Jesus’ bodies that will provide eternal life for us. It is just their feet that give life to the Living Waters. It is just their feet giving life to the Tree of Life. It’s not their hands, or his head, or anything else; it is their feet. The power of God in Jesus is so awesome that the lowest parts of their bodies fuel and provide the power to the Water of Life, to the Tree of Life, and to His followers, Eternal Life.
As Jesus said, drink from the Spring of Living Water, accept Jesus into your heart, and live FOREVER! Drink this:
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
[1] Matthew 10:16 (KJV) Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
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