The Tree of Life

2023-02-11

The tree of life was a prominent tree in the Garden of Eden. “And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9).

The fruit of this tree allowed for humanity to live forever. “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” (Genesis 3:22). The assumption here is that Adam and Eve would have lived forever if they kept eating from this tree, even though they had spiritually died. Taking them away from this tree was an act of judgment and grace. They could not live forever, but they also would not live forever in the state of decay and sin.

To ensure Adam and Eve would not eat of this tree, it was guarded by cherubim and a flaming sword. “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 3:24).

When the Lord will establish His kingdom in the future, the tree of life will be there. “To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). It bears twelve different types of fruit and provides healing for the entire world. “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations” (Revelation 22:2).

Those who do God’s commandments will have right to eat of the fruits of this tree of life: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

The tree of life does not merely reflect a physical tree; other things are trees of life. Wisdom, for one, is an example. “She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her” (Proverbs 3:18). Wisdom brings life and happiness to those who embrace the Lord’s wisdom.

The tree of life is the result of the life of the righteous. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). This conversation of the righteous wins others over, “for charity shall cover the multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). The ways of the righteous also win people over to the Lord.

When something you anticipate is delayed, you may get downhearted, but when your hope is finally realized, how revitalizing it is. “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12). This is much like the return of the Lord. We did not anticipate that the Lord would still be in heaven this many centuries later. However, how much sweeter will His return be for that generation of Christians when it happens.

Encouraging words we speak are a tree of life to others. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). The word for “wholesome” can also refer to a cure or medicine. “And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed: it shall bring forth new fruit according to his months, because their waters they issued out of the sanctuary: and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof for medicine” (Ezekiel 47:12).

Imagine a tree that bears monthly fruit of twelve varieties, bringing life to the eaters, whose leaves are for medicine. This is the reality of New Jerusalem when it comes.