The Guarded Tree of Life

Genesis 3:24 (NLT) “After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.” Our eternal news for today is a sequel to Adam and Eve’s story of disobedience in the very first book of the Bible, the Genesis. We recall that after eating the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, GOD banished them from the Garden of Eden where in the midst is also the Tree of Life. At first, before Eve was created, GOD placed two trees in the middle of the garden: the Tree of Life which fruit when eaten, the eater would not die, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil which after eating its fruit, the eater will die. HE only forbid Adam to eat from the Tree of Knowledge only because he will die, not in body but in spirit, but the crafty snake twisted the truth. GOD had not forbid Adam the fruit from the Tree of Life, but because they sinned, they were deprived from eating its fruit as punishment after Adam and Eve rejected his Word, and hence guarded it (Gen 2:9,16,17,22,23). They lost their bid to eternity because of disobedience.This sequel has happy ending. Revelation 22:14-15 says, “Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the Tree of Life. Outside the city are the dogs—the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie.” But what about the middle story? Usually, in a movie, the mystery happens in the middle. The same is true with the Bible. There is the story of Grace of GOD that happened and still happening in the middle: JESUS CHRIST, the Son of GOD will deliver the fruit which is in the Paradise of GOD (Rev 2:7). But first He will redeem those who sinned against His Father. He will offer Himself as the atonement for our sins, making them worthy to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life, so that after eating this fruit, we will live even our bodies die. John 11:25-26 says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.” The mystery is this, how did they ate the fruit that Jesus given from the Paradise of GOD? Jesus said, in John 17:13-14, “Now I am coming to you, Father. I told them many things while I was with them in this world…14 I have given them your word.” The fruit is the Word of GOD that Jesus Christ had given us. Jesus also said in John 5:24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” This middle story of GOD’s Grace has two parts. The first part is for the people that lived B.C. and the second part is for us who are living A.D. or I should say A.R. (After Resurrection) which includes our generation.Our part of the story: Proverbs 4:20,22 confirms that if we listen to His Word, it will give life to those who find them. We do not need to wait and pass the great tribulation before GOD permit us to enter the gates of the City of the Living GOD to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life. HE wants us to escape the punishment that is prepared for his enemies (Rom.5:9). We could have it through Jesus Christ now by believing and accepting His Words that gives Eternal Life (John 1:12).The Tree of Life is still guarded now by the cherubim, and the flaming sword that is flashing back and forth is still there to guard the way to the Tree of Life (Gen. 3:24). But Jesus Christ had already given ALL authority by GOD the Father (Matt. 28:18). He has authority to take the fruit and give it to us even it is guarded.So why get the fruit of the Tree of Life by yourself later. It is available now for all those who believe that today we are in the Story of GOD’s Grace. Titus 2:11 says, “For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.” Today, we can bid for Eternal Life, through Jesus Christ, we can eat the fruit from the guarded Tree of Life. AMEN