Introduction:
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I pray this letter finds you in excellent health and hope for our eternal life in Jesus Christ. Today, I invite you to return to the very early days of creation. I want to take you to the Garden of Eden, where God first placed the first human creations, Adam and Eve. This garden was not as simple as we understand; gardens in the ancient world were the abodes of the gods, where gods lived. In the Garden of Eden were two significant trees: the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and the Tree of Life. I want us to focus on the Tree of Life today, a symbol of God’s provision for eternal life.
The Gift of the Tree of Life:
As described in the book of Genesis, the Tree of Life was not just a tree amongst trees in Eden. I believe it has a divine provision; it was a source of life that granted eternity to those who ate its fruit. Adam and Eve would continue to live on as long as they had access and could eat the fruits of the Tree of Life. The scripture tells us ‘”And 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” (Genesis 2:9, NIV). Adam and Eve were created as mortal humans with access to immortality through the Tree of Life. They were free to eat its fruit, and as long as they submitted to God’s commandments, they were to live forever. This was the gift of contingent immortality, a life everlasting, conditioned upon their obedience and faithfulness to God.
The Consequence of Sin:
Unfortunately, the story in the Garden of Eden took a different turn when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge. This was an act of disobedience; it was not that they committed a simple sin; this disobedience completely altered their future and existence. The sentence from God was severe; they were banished from Eden, and most critically, they lost access to the Tree of Life. They will no longer be able to reach out and eat from the fruit that offers eternal life. When God declared, “You will surely die,” it was not an immediate punishment but a natural consequence of being severed from the source of life. We read in Genesis 3:22, “Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.”
The Lesson of Contingent Immortality:
What does this mean for us today? After all, we are the descendants of Adam and Eve. What happened to them is a potent reminder of the consequences of our choices. Like them, we face daily decisions that either draw us closer to God or push us further away. Each choice carries its weight; each decision shapes our destiny whether we know it or not. The story of the Tree of Life teaches us that while God’s gifts are gracious and abundant, they come with conditions of obedience, faith and continual seeking of his face. Obedience is an essential factor.
The Path Back to Life and Its Future Promise:
Is there any way back once we faulted? Like Adam and Eve, we have been separated, cut off from the Tree of Life in a garden long ago, but we are not left without hope. In Jesus, a new way has been opened, a path back to living forever. Through his sacrifice on the cross, Jesus overcame the curse of sin and death, offering us a new kind of immortality that is not contingent on the fruit of a tree but on our faith in Him. Moreover, the book of Revelation promises us that the Tree of Life Is not gone forever. In the new earth and heaven, the tree “stands in the city of God, bearing fruit each month and its leaves for the healing of the nations.’ Rev 22:2. This eternal promise underscores the complete restoration of all things through Jesus.
Conclusion:
I admonish you, therefore, to make choices that reflect our longing for eternal life. Let us live in obedience, faithfulness, and holy reverence to our God Almighty, knowing that our choices echo into eternity. Let us hold fast to Jesus, our true source of life, and let each day be a step closer to the everlasting life that HE promises. Let us look forward to the day when we shall again have access to the Tree of Life.
I pray that his understanding of the Tree of Life inspires us to live well and wisely, with our eyes fixed on things eternal. Let us cherish the life we have been given and pursue the immortal life offered through Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Amen.
