The tree of life is a life-giving tree mentioned in the books of Genesis and Revelation. God created this tree to enhance and permanently sustain the physical life of humanity, but God placed the tree centrally so that it would have been easily accessible to Adam and Eve from any point in the garden

After Adam and Eve had sinned, God said:

“Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!””

Genesis 3:22

Most Scholars believe that “us” means the Triune God being God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit we’re speaking together at this point. But, this was the first time within Scripture that God shows Himself this way. Being what we know as one Godhead distinctive within three persons

Adam’s disobedience meant that he lost his eternal life. Therefore, God had placed the tree of life in Eden to maintain the life of Adam and Eve (and maybe even the animals too). Yet, Adam would have “lived forever,” even in his fallen condition, if he had eaten the tree of life after his sin, so then, there would never have been the option for God to save us through the redemptive power of Jesus Christ

In other words, God showed humanity mercy when He placed a sword-wielding cherub at the entrance to the garden, specifically “to guard the way to the tree of life” (verse 24), because if Adam and Eve has access to the tree of life, then it would have prolonged Adam living in a cursed world, indefinitely

By banning access to the tree of life, God showed compassion in His omniscience. Knowing that, because of sin, earthly life would be filled with suffering and struggles, God graciously limits the number of years we would live, but more importantly, by limiting our lifespan, God gives us enough time to come to know Him and His provision for eternal life through Christ but spares us the misery of an endless existence in our sinful condition

In His great love, God provided One who would redeem fallen humankind. Through one man, Adam, sin entered the world, but through another Man, Jesus Christ, redemption through the forgiveness of sin is available to all. Yet, those of us who will be resurrected to see the tree of life again (for it stands in the middle of the Holy City, the New Jerusalem) we will once again have access to the tree of life because it will be reinstated, and darkness will be forever banished and eternal life will be restored to us once more

Categories: GenesisTags: bible, christian, Christianity, church, eternal life, eternity, Faith, Genesis 3:22, god, Gospel, grace, heaven, jesus, Life, Love, Mercy, Promises, Purpose, relationship, scripture, Sin, Tree of Life, World