When the Tree of Life Comes Full Circle

Don’t you just love it when something comes full circle? I recently finished reading the book of Revelation, and it is exciting to know that one day we will witness it when the Tree of Life comes full circle!

In the beginning! We need to start at the beginning to see the full picture. Let’s go back and start in Genesis.

The Circle

In the Beginning

There are some things about the Garden of Eden that I find so interesting. Today I want to look at what the Bible says about the tree of life.

There were many beautiful and pleasing trees in the Garden of Eden, but there were two mentioned by name:

• The Tree of Life
• The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Out of all of the trees in the garden, there was only one tree that the Lord forbid them to eat from – the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

(On a side note – Everything was perfect in the garden: no pain, sickness, sin, or evil. Because we have the knowledge of good and evil, it is easy to ask, “Why would they ever want that knowledge?”)

The Temptation

Just when things are going well, the enemy has a way of showing up.

Again, why would this be tempting? It had to be the fear of missing out; they didn’t know exactly what evil was.

The Fall

You know what happened next – Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, and all kinds of consequences followed. Here are just a few:

• They discovered what shame felt like.
• Their fellowship with the Lord was fractured – they tried to hide from Him.
• Labor pains
• Family issues
• The ground was cursed:
  • Required labor now
  • Thorns and thistles came about
• They had to work for their food.
• Death
• The first animal sacrifice (animal skins for clothing)
• They were sent away from the Garden of Eden.
• Many years later, they would see one of their sons kill his own brother.

Read Genesis chapter 3 for more details.

Kicked Out

This is where it gets interesting!

I have heard the account of Adam and Eve my whole life and never really caught this until a few years ago. Look closely at what the Lord says in this passage about the tree of life.

Being kicked out of the garden seems to have had some special protections for them.

Can you imagine having eternal life in a sinful world? It sounds like if they would have eaten from the tree of life after eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, that is exactly what would have happened to them. I would rather wait for Heaven to experience eternal life!

Reread the verse above, and hopefully what I am trying to say will make more sense.

An Example from the Movies

Have you ever seen the movie, “The Green Mile?” The main character tells the story of an event that ended up giving him (not eternal life) but a very long life.

On the surface, this sounded like a blessing, but in the fallen world we live in, he experienced lots of hurt. He outlived everyone he came in contact with, so just the pain of grief was a lot.

In the end, he considered it a curse because of the pain he endured in this fallen world.

In the End

This brings us to the book of Revelation, the last chapter! The Lord is all about restoration, and the tree of life is a perfect example.

If you take nothing else away from this, remember:

“…and there will no longer be any curse…”
Revelation 22:3

The Tree of Life Comes Full Circle

We started in Genesis and ended in Revelation – that covers the Bible. From cover to cover, you can see evidence of the fall of man and the Lord’s restoration.

What a blessing to know that the Tree of Life will come full circle one day!

I encourage you to read the Bible with fresh eyes and see what the Lord wants to share. When you do, please pass it along. He is amazing, and His Word is true!

Bible Study

If you are just getting started or looking for a gift for someone who is, I recommend getting a version of the Bible that is true to the original text and is easy to read and understand.

My ultimate favorite is the She Reads Truth Bible. You can see it here.

You can also find a few Bible study tips and ideas here – Simple Bible Study Ideas for Spiritual Growth.

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Related Posts

Is It Possible to Grieve with Grace and Joy
Time Lessons: Like Sands Through the Hourglass
Nuggets of Grace: The Waiting Game

Until next time,

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“When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.” Psalms 94:19