Tree of Life 2/5

05 Feb 2016 Tree of Life – Devotion for the Day by Dorothy

Genesis 2:9 KJV, “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden …

Genesis, the beginning of the Bible and Revelation, the last book of the Bible had written about the tree of life. What made the tree of life so special? The answer is found in Genesis 3:22 NLT, “… What if they eat the fruit of the tree of life? Then they will live forever!” Genesis 3:24 NLT, “After banishing them from the garden, the Lord God stationed mighty angelic beings (cherubim) to the east of Eden. And a flaming sword flashed back and forth, guarding the way to the tree of life.”

Since the fall of Adam and Eve, they were forced to leave the Garden of Eden, and worked for their own living. They were not allowed to eat the fruits from the tree of life. The Scripture quoted “For the wages of sin is death…” (Rom.6:23). “… the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen.3:21). God provided clothing to Adam and Eve, clothing through the sacrifice of death through animals. God taught Adam and Eve that they were to approach Him through sacrifice, the shedding of blood.

God gave them hope through the first prophecy from the book of Genesis 3:15 that Jesus Christ would take their place through the death of the cross by faith 4,000 years later. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him (Jesus) should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16.  

Rev. 2:7 tells us that overcomers will have the chance to eat the fruits of the tree of life which is in the middle of God’s paradise. An overcomer is one who, by God’s grace received through faith in Christ, has experienced the new birth and remains constant in his victory over sin, the world, and Satan. An overcomer will live forever and shall not die physically.

Rev. 22:2 KJV, “… and on either side of the river there was the tree of life, which bare twelve manner (kind) of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month…”  Once someone told me of a dream that she stood beside the tree and ate the fruit that had 12 different flavor. When she took a bite, she said, “It taste like peach, then it taste like pear, and then … oh my, different flavor in one fruit was awesome!” What a vision she had when Jesus showed her the tree with 12 fruits!

Dorothy: What does this means to me? I didn’t know at that time that this was that TREE OF LIFE that bears 12 kinds of fruits that Jesus had shown to her in a dream. She didn’t even know it either. The point is that when I study the Scriptures, there’s always something to learn. Like the Tree of Life in the beginning of the Bible and Tree of Life at the end of the Bible. It just made me realize that God just wants us to enjoy that Tree of Life and someday we will get to taste it. I can’t even imagine this! God promised we’ll get to enjoy it! This should encourage us to hold on to the faith of Jesus Christ who is coming soon. I say, Amen!

Song: It Gives Strength to Me

It gives strength to me as I worship Thee

And my mouth is filled with praise.

He will break the bands as I lift my hands

And give glorious liberty.

     (Inspiring Choruses)