A number of years ago The Lord began to open up the reality of the two trees in the garden – The Tree of Life and The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. For weeks everywhere I looked, seemingly everything that I heard related to these two trees.
We first encounter these trees in Genesis chapter 2:9: “And in the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
In Proverbs, chapter 3, Wisdom is described as “a tree of life to those who take hold of her,” (Proverbs 3:18). Revelation chapter 22 also speaks of the tree of life: “On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”
God instructed Adam regarding the trees in the garden: “You may eat freely from every tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)
Have you ever asked yourself exactly what type of death?
Genesis chapter 3 begins with the serpent asking the woman a question: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” The woman responds to him, explaining, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You must not eat of it or touch it, or you will die.’” (Interesting side note…. God said not to eat of this tree; yet in her response here, the woman says they are not to eat of it or touch it.)
In verse 4 the serpent told her, “You will not surely die. . . . For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” It is in this exchange that the serpent plants the ultimate lying accusation toward God. One that – over thousands of years – remains the lie that we still struggle with today.
In saying that “you will not surely die,” he is essentially calling God a liar. And in so doing, he is insinuating that God is not trustworthy. Further, If God is an untrustworthy liar, then He may withhold what they need.
Based upon this lie about the nature and character of God, the woman saw “that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom.” In this moment she determines that it is in her best interest to eat this fruit so that she may “know good and evil,” because God’s wisdom and guidance can no longer be trusted.
In what I have come to believe as a beautiful act of mercy, God made garments of animal skins to cover Adam and his wife, and He removed them from the garden, “lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” This is merciful because in their current state of understanding, if they were to eat of the tree of life, they would then live forever in that deceived state of mind. God protected them even in their disobedience, rather than leaving them eternally with the consequence of their choice.
So, we have these two trees. In my world of “both / and” thinking, these trees are real trees with real fruit. Yet, they are also eternal realities that represent two different mindsets, or ways of thinking / looking at life and the world around us.
For a moment, let’s ponder the characteristics of a natural tree. Generally speaking, a tree is a tall woody structure with leaves or needles. It has a single trunk, roots, multiple branches and the ability to grow tall and increase in all dimensions.
Trees have roots that grow into the earth for stability and nourishment. This source of nourishment travels up through the roots, into the branches, leaves, and flowers or fruit.
Some key identifying features of a tree include the unique shape of its leaf, the shape, color and smell of it flowers (if it has any), and the fruit that the tree bears (if it is fruit bearing).
In Luke chapter 6:43 Jesus taught in a parable, “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.” In Matthew Chapter 12 when Jesus is talking to the religious leaders of the day he tells them “a tree is known by its fruit.”
From an eternal perspective, I see the “sap” that flows through and nourishes the tree of life as the Wisdom that flows like a river from the heart of God. (Revelation 22:1) A fountain of life (Psalm 36:9), the Lord, “the fountain of living water.” (Jeremiah 17:13)
In contrast, the “sap” that supplies the tree of the knowledge of good and evil comes from the father of lies, whom Jesus describes as “a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
Within the Tree of Life resides the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. It sees through the lens from His Throne Room (seeing as He sees). It is peace (His perfect order) and rest (ceasing from our own works). It is the Kingdom of Heaven – His authority, His order, His sovereign rule, forever. It is entering the Kingdom by choosing the cross as a lifestyle. It is surrender. It is receiving. It is choosing to be chosen; to live utterly dependent upon the One Who is able to supply all of our need. It is finding our worth and value in Him, above all else. It is the end of competition and comparison. It knows no greater Love than to lay one’s life down. He is Love and His motivation is Love. Nestled in the branches of the tree of life, we are beloved children, heirs, The bride – His body.
The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil harbors accusations toward God; that He lies, that He withholds our needs and that He is not good, therefore not trustworthy. It processes through the perceptions of the intellect and is tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine (double-minded). It is fueled by striving, performance, and perfectionism. It is motivated by fear and shame. It operates through the soul’s dictates. Confusion abounds and Fear blinds. Here we are orphans.
Just as Adam and his wife were presented with a choice in the garden, we too have this privilege today. Which tree will you choose?
