Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. 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 2:8-9 NIV

At the dawn of time, as God created the Garden of Eden, He created and planted two vastly different trees in His garden: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil:

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." Genesis 2:15 NIV

This tree could better be called the "tree of death." God told Adam if he ate of this tree he would certainly die. King James Bible says in that day you shall surely die.

This death God spoke of was not physical, it was Spiritual … it was separation from God.

The Tree of Life:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. 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. Revelation 22:1-2 NIV

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. Genesis 1:11 NIV

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. Genesis 1:29-30 NIV

When God created man He gave mankind all green plants for food. He placed nourishing and healing qualities into these plants. We each have the choice which of them we want to consume. God only put restriction on one plant – one specific tree – the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He told Adam that choosing to eat of that tree would bring death.

Choices:

God gave Adam and Eve directions. But He also gave them choices, in that He planted two trees: the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

· These trees grew side by side in His garden: In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:9b NIV

· They were both tempting: When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom … Genesis 3:6a NIV. The Tree of Life was tempting in that one could live a full and abundant life when one has eaten of it. The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil was pleasant to look at, good for food and desirous for gaining wisdom.

· God gives men free will to choose: Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:11-20 NIV

Eve chose the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. She believed the serpent – that by eating of its fruit she could become "like God." She was deceived by his guile.

Adam chose to fall into sin and stand by his wife.

We all have the same choice to make: to follow God in obedience or to fall into sin.

The Way Back to the Tree of Life:

All through history there has been a way back to the Tree of Life; it is by FAITH. Hebrews 11 tells us of the faith of the Patriarchs.

"We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:15-17 NIV

Since the death of Christ the Faith required to find the way back to the Tree of Life leads to the foot of another tree: the Tree of Calvary and passed that tree to the garden tomb. For Christ was born, lived among us, died and rose again to save us from sin.

Two Trees the Choice is Yours:

While there is still time, there is still a choice to be made by each person.

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NIV

Return to the Tree of Life:

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Revelation 22:14-15 NIV

When we have made our journey passed the Tree of Calvary, God gives us access once more to the Tree of Life.

I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. John 10:9-12 NIV

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! Romans 5:15-17 NIV

Your Choice:

We all have the same choices that God gave Adam; to eat from the Tree of Life or the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

As God's co-workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation. 2Corinthians 6:1-2 NIV

Have you made your choice?

Some would say that they will make no choice, they will let the "chips fall where they may." This is still a choice. For Jesus said: "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." Matthew 12:30 NIV

Sincerely,

Aleita J. 'Leigh' Morton

Bread of Life Christian Fellowship- Notes

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Sunday, September 6, 2015

Two Trees – at the Root of the Gospel