The Tree of Life...Part of a Plan Gone Bad?

The Garden of Eden was undoubtedly a beautiful place.  In the garden Adam and Eve lived freely.  Adams privilege was evidently to exercise stewardship over the garden.  God was their provider in every way.  There was abundance.

And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.  And the 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 eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:15-17

In the garden were many trees of differing types.  There were two especially interesting trees in the garden:  The "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil" and the "Tree of Life".  Adam and Eve were free to eat of the trees of the garden along with any herb they wanted.  There was even no restriction against eating from the Tree of Life.

There was one restriction however.  The restriction was a "minor" one.  This constraint involved the choice we all have been given.the choice being whether or not to accept or reject God's word.  For Adam and Eve there was every reason to obey.  This obedience would have been based on love, not fear.  They had a choice, so therefore they were truly free before God.

The one tree that was forbidden was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  More than likely there was no mysterious substance within the fruit that would impart some kind of "extra" knowledge to the eater. Adam and Eve most certainly knew or had a good working knowledge of "good".  All they had ever seen was good. Good was central to their existance.  "Evil" is simply defined as rejection of God's will.  Previously they had never experienced evil.  They had never rejected or disobeyed God.  When they did reject God's will, by eating of the fruit, they instantly experienced evil, and having experienced both, they knew the difference, in a direct and probably very powerful, frightful and terrible way.  There was no going back.  It wasn't the pulp or juice of the fruit; it was the choice not to trust God.  The choice was made; the course was set.in those few seconds.  Those reading this today are doing so because of the choice made that day.

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

The garden, evidently, continued to exist for some time after Adam and Eve were banished, and banished they were, never to return.

The Tree of Life still flourished in the garden.  The very first man and woman were driven from the garden to prevent them from eating of the fruit of this tree any longer.  We have no idea of what this fruit was or how it allowed everlasting life and health.  We do know that God said it was so.  In Revelation (2:7, 21:1, 5 and 22:1-2) we find that this tree will again be planted in a coming age when the earth is made new again.  Very interestingly.the tree was there, for mankind's benefit, in the beginning.  It will be present again, for our benefit, for eternity.

God had to drive Adam and Eve from the garden.  Surely they both were repentant.  Imagine what they might have thought or felt.  They were leaving the only home they ever knew.  They knew they were dying (when and how and what that meant might have been a mystery).  The fellowship and protection from God was not the same.  What would their existence be like in the future?  Was there a future?  Their provision from God would be gone: they would have to work.  Surely they hesitated to leave everything the ever knew.  Their world was changing "forever."  God drove them out, but He had a plan.  God could not let Adam and Eve to live continuously in a perfect environment as sinners, and live on indefinitely in that condition.  Adam and Eve and all those that came after must be taught that God gives a choice.  Everyone that ever would live would have to be taught the consequences of sin and living a life out of fellowship with God.  Through this everyone would have a choice to understand and know God's love and come to know Him as Savior as well as Provider.

To guard the way to the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life God located, at the east end of the garden, two Cherubim. These beings had some kind of sword-like device turning every way around them.  The sight must have been formidable.

Cherubim are apparently the highest ranking of the angelic beings.  They are described more fully in the books of Ezekiel and Revelation.  Satan was once one of these creatures.  The fact that these creatures protect or guard the way to the Tree of Life is perhaps significant.  Is God's presence or being somehow specially manifested in or around the Tree of Life?  Maybe this is the case.  Cherubim are always closely associated with the throne of God. Satan is described as the anointed cherub that covereth. Even now Satan stands before the throne accusing us. Is it a coincidence that atop the Ark of the Covenant, in the tabernacle were fashioned two Cherubim, overshadowing or maybe "guarding" the Mercy Seat of the Ark?  Every year the high Priest offered sacrificial blood atonement for sin.  Same subject (sin and the consequences) with two cherubim involved.fascinating.  It is also mind boggling to see that at the empty tomb after the provision for sin and its consequences were accomplished, there are again two angelic beings present, in this dimension, at the event.  In all three cases the angelic beings or representations were bathed in Godly light.  In Eden there were flaming swords.  The Ark of the Covenant was bathed in the Shekinah glory of God.  The angels at the Resurrection were clothed in shining garments.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from sin. 1 John 1:7

In the New Testament, John makes a remarkable statement, as seen above, that overlays and complements the ideas we have already explored. Several significant core items are mentioned or inferred.  Fellowship with God lost in Eden (now fellowship possible again), sin and its consequences, Gods plan, a payment for sin accomplished and a choice implied.are all in that verse (even the associated light that is pictured in angelic references above)!  Utterly amazing!!  It seems that God overlays or reinforces His truth in such an intriguing way that He gives every chance He can for us to understand and make a choice.  The character of God can be seen in how intricately and perfectly He shows His will and His plan.  The way He tells us His truth is a testament to who He is.  His way is somehow so wonderfully complicated and so plain and simple at the same time. 

The Tree of Life was there at the beginning and will be there again for eons to come.  God had a plan.  God has a plan.  God provided a "Tree of Life" for us of another kind, but related to sin and it's consequences, just the same.  His Son, Jesus was nailed to it.  He died on that tree, to finally pay the consequences for sin, yours, mine, and everyone else's.  Through that sacrifice on that tree we can make the choice.the choice to have life, life everlasting, or be separated from God forever. God loves us enough to let us choose.