As a little boy on the farm, I love climbing trees. On a few occasions I fell off the branches to the ground hurting myself. Dad spoke to me saying that climbing trees is one thing, but changes from one tree’s branch to another tree’s branch way up in the air like Tarzan did was dangerous. He said that one day I’d fall and really injure myself. What he was saying is … “You have to make a decision. Changing from tree to tree way up there and you fall, you will get hurt badly. Rather choose not to transfer from tree to tree.”
But as you know, boy will be boys! As mom would say … “in one ear and other the other.” Yes, that was me. I decided to do it again and that time I fell onto the remains of a rusty, iron fence pole, which cut deep into the inside of my upper top leg. Blood everywhere! Crying, I ran to mommy. No car, so mom covered up the wound and carried me for a few miles to the doctor who cleaned and stitched it up. From there mom carried me another few miles, across the boom gate of the railway, to the Pharmacy. After getting the ointment and medication, to apply just in case the rust caused poison, she carried me home again. Naturally, she was exhausted once arriving back at the farm house.
My wrong decision and me not listening to father did not only cause me injury and pain, it resulting is loss of housework for mom, exhaustion, late supper for the family once dad arrived home from work and other discomforts for my dad and sister. When thinking of my selfishness and sinful disobedience of that day, now in the present, I recall Joel’s words:
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
There was another man who made a wrong decision that would later affect every other person into the future because he did not listen to and obey his Father. This man was named Adam. On purpose I left the last part of verse 9 and stopped at verse 15 yesterday as I wanted to address these verses together. They are crucial to grasp chapter three and to grasp the spiritual, moral and ethical condition of the human heart. Please read:
Gen 2:9 In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.”
1) Two trees. Both trees are given a name. The first is the Tree of Life and the second the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They are so named by Moses as he was inspired. They would both fulfil a purpose according to their name. These two trees represent choices … decisions.
(1) The Tree of Life. After the fall, this tree is mentioned in Genesis 3:
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, “… He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”
If Adam survived the first temptation, the Tree of Life would have pointed to his victory. Notice that after its mention in chapter 3:22, its true meaning is never seen again until the Book of Revelation.
(i) This is to the Church at Ephesus:
Rev 2:7 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
The next three verses are found in the last chapter of the Bible!
(ii)
Rev 22:2 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.
(iii)
Rev 22:14 “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.
(iv)
Rev 22:19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
A careful reading of these verses clearly alerts us to two things.
(a) By mentioning the option of the Tree of Life in Genesis 2, we have a reference to the quality and endlessness of physical life for Adam and his descendants.
(b) Through Jesus Christ, eternal life is possible. It will not be physical but spiritual. We see this in Paul’s writing:
1Co 15:42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
In Jesus and through His meritorious work on the Cross, He gained eternal life with God for all believers. True Christians live forever! All others die forever!
(2) The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It is also mentioned again after the fall.
Gen 3:22 And the LORD God said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil.”
Perhaps the word “knowledge” in chapter 2:9 ought also to have been interpreted as “knowing” as in chapter 3:22. The same word is used in Jeremiah 22:
Jer 22:16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the LORD.
It is not a case of having a knowledge of God but knowing God! That is the point of Genesis 2:9 … it following the pattern of chapter 3:22. Not to have a “knowledge” of Good and Evil … but “knowing” Good and Evil. In other words, Adam would understand the quality of good and the quality of evil and see the difference. Such a distinction ought to foster favor towards the choice of Tree!
(3) Some have tried to introduce such things as the fruit in the garden that Adam ate was an apple or pear. Others suggested it was of a sexual nature. We need to say that any such suggestion (or anything else like it) exposes a lack of spiritual insight into the Word of God. It’s spiritual! Behind the two trees lies “choice” … “decision”. As we shall see … would obedience to God’s command in verse 16 be realized or would there be failure?
(4) These two trees show that God made ample provision for man to choose correctly and not fall into sin. It is the same as my dad or any other parent or person giving clear, concise instructions to follow. There is no excuse!
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.
We do not know when Jesus shall return but we do know it will be sudden and unexpected … just like a thief on the night! There will not be any advanced warnings from heaven because these have already been issued. Jesus pointed to wars and earthquakes and other phenomena happening, including the escalation of wickedness and then the end will come. Surely we are near to the end! Multitudes, multitudes … decisions, decisions!
Our Father in heaven, thank You for the promise of life eternal based upon our response to the Gospel. May many decide correctly as life pushes towards the end. Amen.