The Tree of Life

As the pastor of Faith in God Church, I realize that my main duty is not to point out people’s sin, but to point them to the righteous one. It is not my job to point out sin, but to introduce others to the one who will convict them from within.
That’s not to say that I will never talk about sin. To deny that sin exists would be unfair to those who are deluded into thinking that anything they do is okay with God.
In Genesis 3:22-24-It says that the man has 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 forever, God sent the man from the garden of Eden to till the ground where he came from. He placed Cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.
Years ago I was going from my home in Alton to where I worked at the time in Thayer, Missouri when I was thinking about all the bad things that we humans have done and were doing and I asked God how he put up with all of us. I asked him how a God of justice could allow man to continue as he did. He didn’t say anything right away, but when I got to work and was sitting at my machine, he told me, “I am God of Justice, but I am also the God of Love.”
Some people think that God drove Adam from the garden as punishment for eating of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The truth is, as you can see from this statement, he sent man away to protect him from having to live in his sin forever. He put a flaming sword and heavenly messengers to guard the way to the Tree of the Life.

From Death to Life

In Romans 5:14 we learn that by one man, sin entered the world. Though Adam’s sin in the garden, we all are subject to sin. In Corinthians 15:21-23 it states that in Adam, we all face death, but in Christ we will all be made to live to face judgement. Later in the same chapter, in verses 45-50 we learn that in Adam we were made a corruptible living soul, but in Christ we are made an incorruptible quickening spirit.
We learn in II Timothy 1:10-In our Savior Jesus Christ, death is abolished and he has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Romans 45:15-21 teaches us that
In Romans 5:15-21 we see that though Adam brought death to reign in humankind, Christ brings life as a free gift of grace. Through his obedience, many are made righteous. We don’t receive this through following the law, because human nature proves that humans cannot keep the law. It is only through the grace that comes through the righteousness unto eternal life through Jesus Christ.
The tree of life is again found in Revelation 22:2 where it says that in the New Jerusalem, The Tree of Life will again be seen. The tree will bear twelve manner of fruit and yield her fruit every month. And the leaves of the trees will be a healing for the nations.
This fruit that this tree bears is spiritual fruit which the word speaks about in other places. We get this fruit through the Holy Spirit who lives in us. This Tree of Life therefore produces spiritual life and fruit. It is through these fruits that true healing can occur. Forgiveness, love joy, peace all are part of this spiritual redeeming life.
With this knowledge, let us go back and look at sword that guards The Tree of Life as it was back in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:24. If you look at the flaming sword, it sort of looks like the cross. The sword of the spirit is the Word and the Word is Jesus Christ. The only way get to the Tree of Life (spiritual life) is through the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, in other words, Jesus Christ.

Donna Brown is pastor at Faith in God Church in Brandsville, Missouri.. As Author Cygnet Brown, she  has recently published her first nonfiction book: Simply Vegetable Gardening: Simple Organic Gardening Tips for the Beginning Gardener

She is also the author of historical fiction series The Locket Saga. which includes When God Turned His Head and Soldiers Don’t Cry, the Locket Saga Continues, and most recently, A Coward’s Solace, Book III of the Locket Saga.For more information about Cygnet Brown and her book, check out her website at http://www.cygnetbrow.com .