Tree of Bookends
The Tree of Bookends: Exile to Access
“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.”
Genesis 3:22 NIV
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the paradise of God.”
Revelation 2:7 NIV
The Tree of Life is a story of creation, fall, redemption and restoration. The Tree of Life encompasses God as the giver and sustainer, how sin disrupts life and how redemption restores what was once guarded. God made different trees in the Garden of Eden. The Tree of Life was placed in the middle of the garden available to freely enjoy. However, God commanded Adam to not eat from one specific tree, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
Adam and Eve had no idea of the depth of pain they would endure with the boldness of their actions if they ate from it. This command allowed freedom to make choices and to live with consequences. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was a trust boundary with dependance on God or self-definition. After eating from the Tree of Knowledge, the Tree of Life was restricted by God. He placed a Cherubim and swirling flaming sword to guard it. Sin entered, therefore access changed. They could not live forever in a fallen state separated from God, locked in brokenness. They were cast out of the garden with a hard life ahead.
The resurrected Jesus Christ revealed himself to Apostle John. In turn, he wrote letters to the seven churches in Revelations. John writes about the Tree of Life making a comeback. Revelations 22:2 describes the Tree of Life being “placed in the paradise of God on both sides of the River of Living Water. The Tree of Life bears twelve kinds of fruit yielding a monthly harvest. The leaves are for healing the nations and there will no longer be any curse.”
The provision of God is back in heaven. Through the death of Jesus on the cross, humanity is given access again to the Tree of Life. The flaming sword and Cherubim are no longer barriers because of the blood of the lamb. Redemption reopens what sin once closed. Those that are victorious are persevering in faith. They ask for forgiveness of their sins, walk in God’s commandments, remain true to Christ, resist temptation and endure through Jesus and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The cross is the bridge that reopens the way to the Tree of Life flipping the script on Eden from exile to redemption. As John 14:6 states – Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Jesus is the I AM which is reflected in Revelations.
He doesn’t show us the way; He is The way. He doesn’t speak the truth; He is The truth. He doesn’t just give life; He IS life. The Tree of Life was never just about a tree. It was always about access to God Himself through Christ.
Reflect: What trees are you picking fruit from? Has it been feeding your soul or just the moment? Where in your story does the script need to be flipped? In these questions, sit with Jesus on the fruit that serves you and Him. Speak to Jesus about what restoration looks like in your life.
Pray: Thank you for the Tree of Life waiting, never being uprooted. Show us what fruit nourishes us, not just keeps us busy or tired. Help us to recognize what trees we need to stand beneath. Thank you for not losing us, but restoring us. Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice on the cross so we can have the way, the truth and the life.
Keep Praying,
Lesley Henry