The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 
Genesis 2:9

 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.” … he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. 
Genesis 3:22-23

 … On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. … 
Revelation 22:2-3

 

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Etched on a tombstone in a nearby cemetery is a picture of a child sitting on a river bank. His bamboo fishing pole is poised for the moment the bobber sinks below the water’s surface, ready to land a whopper. The wide brim of his straw hat shades his face from the sun. Behind him are leafy trees stilled in the breeze. The scene often softened the grief of his loving mom and dad until years later when their remains rested beside his body. 

Although the focal point of the scene is the young child, the trees stir my imagination. Trees are a universal symbol of strength and stability. Trees provide us shade, protection from winds, fruit and nuts to eat, and places to play on swings. God put trees in the Garden of Eden—the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they were cursed. In God’s mercy, He cast them out of the garden before they ate from the Tree of Life and would spend eternity living in a fallen state. 

The story comes full circle in Revelation, the last book of the Bible. We learn that there will be a New Jerusalem, a renewed Eden. In that city will be the Tree of Life, a sign that access to God, lost in the fall, is now eternally available to those resurrected to new life through faith in Jesus. Noticeably absent is the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Never again will evil disturb the peace between God and humankind. 

The graphic on the headstone of the boy fishing evokes a comforting feeling. But it is not a permanent fix. The balm does not resolve the problem of death. We will ache with grief this side of eternity, but more reassuring than the graphic on the headstone is the rock-solid promise the curse of death will one day cease to exist. 

Next Steps

Would you consider yourself a follower of Jesus? A clear description of a four step to following can be found at Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.  

If you know Christ, the above website is a good resource to help you share Him with others.