Chapter VII
Two Trees and a Garden
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you,
that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing: therefore choose life,
that both you and your seed may live
Deuteronomy 30:19
Several years ago, a longstanding member of a major Protestant denomination began questioning some of the traditions of his church. Most notable among these traditions were the festivals and holy days taught by his pastor and embraced by his denomination his entire life.
As a child growing up, this man believed in these traditions. He loved Christmas with all its decorations and presents. He anticipated Easter with its candy and games. They were such great days; what was not to like?
Later as a young adult, this devout man tried to see meaning and significance in these seasons, but eventually the things he had long thought to be true began to look less true. Oh, to be sure, Jesus’ birth is described in the Bible, but noticeably absent was any evidence of this event being celebrated by the apostles or the early New Testament Church. And although Jesus’ resurrection consumes a significant portion of the gospels, the early Church kept the Passover, not Easter.
Even a casual study of these holidays revealed that their origin came not from the scriptures, but rather from ancient pagan festivals dedicated to honoring an endless array of deities – but never the God of the Bible.
The young man’s study would then take him to the Sabbath, and once again, another longstanding practice of his faith seemed to directly contradict the scriptures. As he continued to research this subject, he would discover that Jesus and His apostles, as well as the early New Testament church, kept the seventh day (Saturday), not Sunday as he had been taught.
Overwhelmed by this new understanding, the young man approached his pastor for answers. However, instead of answers, all he seemed to get was rationalizing. His pastor argued that it doesn’t really matter what day a Christian observes because “God looks on the heart.” He then explained that Sunday worship as well as holidays such as Good Friday, Ash Wednesday, and Lent actually enhance the meaning of the “faith” and point believers to a deeper understanding of the gospel. Therefore, God couldn’t possibly be opposed to such traditions.
As this meeting proceeded, the young man’s pastor vigorously defended each of the festivals kept by the church. At one point, he even argued that the world as we know it today, with all its complexities, made it impossible to keep the Sabbath and holy days as prescribed in the Bible. He then argued that Christmas was a wonderful festival because of its impact on children, while Easter was equally beautiful because it was a means to evangelize to unbelievers about a risen Christ.
During this meeting, the young man’s pastor actually suggested that the holy days kept by Jesus and His disciples were legalistic and burdensome and those who keep them today are simply being self-righteous.
When the young man indicated that not one argument advanced by his pastor could be supported by scripture, his pastor became furious. He accused the young man of being pharisaical and intolerant. At one point, he even called him a “Judaizer.” He then suggested that the young man look into his heart for answers, but never once did he encourage him to look into God’s word for the truth.
As the young man began to leave his pastor’s office, he paused, and then asked this man he had trusted for so many years one last question. “Sir,” he said, “Does the Bible anywhere remotely suggest that man has the authority to decide for himself how he may worship his Creator?”
There is an extraordinary quality and strength to this question because it cuts to the very core of the faith proclaimed in the pages of your Bible. It is a question that when properly understood reveals a profound truth concerning two trees in a garden and man’s ultimate Destiny.
Two Trees in Paradise
The book of Genesis reveals that shortly after creating Adam and Eve, God placed them in an exquisite paradise and invited them to explore all that was around them. However, this invitation also came with a warning. God explained that in the midst of the garden was a tree whose fruit was life-threatening. If Adam or Eve ate of it, they would most certainly die. Notice God’s words.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.” (Gen. 2:16-17)
As a loving Father, God was committed to protecting his newly created earthly family. For this reason, He gave specific instructions concerning their very survival. It is hard to imagine how anyone would decline to follow such a warning. After all, if you were at a restaurant and someone you trusted said, “Don’t eat this. It’s toxic and will kill you,” you most certainly wouldn’t eat it. This being the case, why would God’s instructions be so difficult to follow? The answer to this question lies in understanding what these two trees actually were.
What Were the Two Trees?
Today there are numerous theories concerning the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Clearly, the tree of life would have been preferable to eat, but tragically, man declined the invitation to do so. On the other hand, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil should have been avoided at all costs. Yet that is not what happened. Why? Is it possible to know what these trees truly were--and will such an understanding provide greater insight into the course man took concerning the choices he was given?
To better understand these two trees, it is critical to understand the God who made them as well as the beings that resided in Eden. Lets begin with understanding something about mankind and the way he was made.
The Moral Judgments of Men
The Bible states without ambiguity that man was never designed to be the moral authority in his own life. As difficult as this might be to believe, humanity simply does not have the proper equipment to navigate its own moral and ethical path. King Solomon, a man regarded by many as the wisest person who ever lived, came to understand this truth. When writing the book of Proverbs, Solomon made a profound observation about man and the moral choices he makes.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death. (Pro. 14:12)
Virtually all mankind has witnessed Solomon’s words in action. We have seen good intentions play out to catastrophic results. Even Solomon’s own life and the choices he made reflect this great moral law.
Solomon was not the only one to draw the conclusion that man was incapable of successfully managing his ethical path. The great prophet Jeremiah also pondered man’s qualifications to rightly preside over his moral decisions. He concluded that man would invariably fall victim to his own moral and ethical devices. Notice his words.
The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9)
Here, Jeremiah is stating that man cannot trust his own judgment because the seat of that judgment (the heart) is not trustworthy. But there is more. King David, who the Bible describes as “a man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22), expressed a profound truth about man’s inability to grasp “right” and “wrong.”
Who can understand his own error? (Psa. 19:12)
The question David asked in this verse is rhetorical. The truth of the matter is that no one can understand his own error. That is why man makes so many. The point here is that man’s capacity to navigate his own moral path is nonexistent. Despite his assertions to the contrary, man was never designed to be the moral authority in his own life. The great prophet Jeremiah conveyed this absolute truth in words that couldn’t be more clear.
O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walks to direct his own steps. (Jer. 10:23)
The words of Jeremiah state a truth that this world has rejected since the Garden of Eden. Simply put, man left to his own moral devices will choose the wrong path. Jesus Christ himself understood this absolute moral law, and His life reflected this understanding. The Bible states that when Jesus walked as a man on the earth, He refused to do something that every other man has done without thinking since the days of Adam and Eve. Jesus refused to direct His own moral steps. That’s right; even the Messiah did not rely on his own wisdom. Notice His words.
I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just: because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which has sent me. (Jn. 5:30)
The Bible categorically asserts that the Great God, who made the heavens and the earth and all things, stands as the one and only unimpeachable Moral Authority in the universe. It is He who decides what is right and what is wrong, what is just and what is unjust, what is good and what is evil. Jesus totally understood this principle, and because of this, He totally surrendered His moral will to the Father. He did so because He absolutely knew that His Father was the source of all that possesses virtue and goodness. The point for man to draw from this is that the God of the Bible is infinitely wise, infinitely just, infinitely powerful, infinitely loving, and most infinitely MORAL. Man in his current state doesn’t come close to “infinite” in any of these areas. However, there is yet another reason for man to tether himself to God and HIS moral compass.
An Unchangeable God
The Bible also declares with great force that the Infinite Creator of all that exists never changes His moral positions. In other words, what He hated four thousand years ago He hates today. The apostle James once described God as One in whom there is “no variableness nor shadow of turning” (Jas. 1:17). With these words James is stating that there isn’t even a hint of movement with respect to God’s wisdom. He doesn’t change with the times. He is eternal. Time has no affect on Him or His moral compass.
However, man’s moral compass is always in a state of flux because his values are constantly being influenced by the world around him – a world that is always changing. To illustrate this point, consider how values have changed in the United States over the past 50 years. Our opinions regarding sex, marriage, and family would have astonished earlier generations. Today, these issues have been redefined by the proponents of a “new morality” – a morality that declares: “if it feels good, do it.”
Additionally, our contemporary world demands that all moral standards constantly adjust to conform to society’s conduct. As a result of this thinking, what we once thought was abhorrent moral behavior is now regarded as not only respectable, but even virtuous. The result of this thinking can be seen in every strata of society.
The morality of today claims to all who would hear: deviant behavior is acceptable as long as you remain true to yourself. This is the same logic used by psychopaths, rapists, extortioners, drug pushers, and every other kind of lowlife our world has ever produced – and it possesses about the same moral weight. Sadly, today this belief is embraced by an entire generation.
“You Will Surely Die”
When God warned Adam and Eve about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He was identifying the very source of all human suffering. That source is man thinking he can decide for himself what is right and what is wrong, what is just and what is unjust, what is good and what is evil. Man has attempted to make these moral pronouncements for millennia and the result has always been untold suffering. The fact of the matter is that every tragic step man has taken has been guided by moral self-will. Every estrangement in human history is born out of self-will. Every divorce is born out of self-will. Every lie and every word of gossip is born out of self-will. Every obscenity and every profanity is born out of self-will. Every political debate is an argument over which man has the best solution to life’s problems and is born out of self-will. Every crime that has ever been committed was born out of self-will. Every war that was ever fought has been provoked by self-will. The point here is that man might know “good” and “evil,” but he will never be able to know good from evil. Six thousand years of human history has borne this out.
What was the forbidden fruit? It was and is MORAL SELF-DETERMINATION. It is man placing himself as the great moral judge in his own life. Man does not possess such authority because he was never given it by the only one who had it to give in the first place.
A Question Answered
When the young man mentioned at the beginning of this chapter asked his pastor if the Bible gave man the authority to decide for himself how he could worship his Creator, his pastor was silent. But the Bible shouts the answer to this question. The scriptures declare with great force that man does NOT have the moral authority to decide for himself how he will worship the Great Creator of heaven and earth. God alone has this authority. Furthermore, both the Old and New Testaments warn against thinking otherwise.
When speaking to the children of Israel, God once instructed them to not inquire about other religions and to never attempt integrating those religions into the truth He was giving them (Dt. 12:30-31). He then expressed a powerful principle regarding how He is to be worshiped.
Whatsoever thing I command you, observe to do it: you shall not add thereto nor diminish from it. (Dt. 12:32)
Here God is stating that appropriate worship is defined by Him, not by man. God alone has the moral authority to determine how He is to be worshiped. This great moral law was later affirmed by Jesus when He said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him is spirit and in TRUTH” (Jn. 4:24). The operative words in this verse are “SPIRIT” and “TRUTH.” At the very end of His life, Jesus defined what truth is. He said, “Thy word is truth” (Jn. 17-17). The point here, is that if man desires to worship his Creator, he must do so as his Creator instructs through His word. Tragically, this is a principle that mankind has ignored since the beginning. The Bible is a chronicle of this defiance. Consider just two examples.
Example I
The Defiance of a Free People
Less than two months after the Israelites were delivered out of Egypt, Moses went up to Mount Sinai to receive God’s great moral code, the Ten Commandments. However, while this true and faithful servant was receiving God’s law, the Israelites were demanding that Aaron fashion a golden calf so that they could have an idol to lead them. Once this idol was crafted, Aaron had the audacity to proclaim it as a gift to the very God who had delivered these slaves out of bondage. With the idol in plain view of this now emancipated people, Aaron declared “a feast to the Eternal.” That’s right – a Holy Day!
And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord. (Ex. 32:5)
Imagine the scope of this act. While God Himself was commanding Moses to refrain from making any graven images (the second commandment), Aaron was fashioning a golden calf for God’s people to worship! When God saw this attempt to build a faith using the traditions of Egypt, He was furious and even threatened to extinguish the Israelites for such defiance (Ex. 32:7-10). Now ask yourself: how much of professing Christianity today really comes from God’s word? What about the many festivals and seasons it celebrates? Does God’s word really command these celebrations? The answer is an emphatic NO!
Tragically, man continues to embrace what he believes are harmless worldly customs and even uses them to declare a “feast to the Eternal.” The truth is that so much of what man thinks is harmless tradition is in reality nothing less than fruit from a tree that kills. Such acts go totally contrary to the very words of God Almighty. But then again, God’s word doesn’t seem to mean that much to those who believe they have the right to decide for themselves how they will worship the very Creator who made them.
Example II
The Defiance of a Proud King
In an earlier chapter we learned that when Israel was a monarchy under King Saul, God gave them specific instructions concerning how to prosecute a war with the Amalekites (1Sam. 15:2-3). However, as the war progressed, Saul made some modifications to these instructions (verse 9).
When the battle was over, Samuel came to Saul and asked why he hadn’t followed God’s word concerning the war they had just won (verses 10-14). Saul responded by explaining that he thought his approach would enhance Israel’s worship of the Eternal (verse 15). Imagine Saul thinking he knew better than God about worship. But that is exactly what this king had argued. And tragically, it is what so many “believers” argue today.
These are just two of many Old Testament examples where God’s children tried to “do Him one better” when it came to defining the faith. Regrettably, such examples of defiance are not limited to the ancient nation of Israel. The New Testament also describes several examples of God’s people thinking they could somehow decide for themselves how to worship the Savior of the world. Consider the following:
“In Vain Do They Worship Me”
The gospels of Matthew and Mark record an event in which Jesus was chastised by the religious leaders of His day because His disciples transgressed the “tradition of the elders” (Mt. 15:1-2, Mk. 7:1-5). Jesus responded to this accusation by rebuking these “pious” men because they held their traditions as having greater moral weight than God’s law. Notice what He said.
Well hath Isaiah prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men... Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. (Mk. 7:6-9)
A History of Defiance
Clearly, the story of mankind is a story of defiance. It is a story of man thinking that he can decide for himself how he will serve the God who made him. The danger of such arrogance is staggering and even threatens those who consider themselves true believers. Notice the sober warning Jesus gave concerning some who thought they could worship God on their terms.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity. (Mt 7:21-23)
Here, the Messiah declares with great force that simply confessing “Jesus is Lord” is not enough. God requires action. The faith of His people must be a living faith (Jas. 2:20) – one that demonstrates a total commitment to the Great God of Heaven. Such a commitment is reflected in obedience to Him and His law. It is never demonstrated in man-made traditions, regardless of how pious they might appear.
The Forbidden Fruit Today
As a result of believing he can navigate his own moral path, man has wreaked havoc on the earth. Since the dawn of human history, he has crafted virtually thousands of religions, thousands of governments, and thousands of laws. He has done so in an attempt to make his world better. But who really thinks it is? Virtually all suffering down through history has its origin in a tree emphatically declared “off limits” by none other than God Himself. (Gen. 3:3).
The great tragedy today is that man continues to eat of that tree. When man makes judgments that fail to reflect God’s law, he is eating from a tree that brings death. When man crafts a culture that ignores the great moral principles outlined in the scriptures, he is eating from a tree that brings death. When man declares the he can decide for himself what values are appropriate, he is eating from a tree that brings death. When man creates governmental systems that refuse to acknowledge the true God, he is eating from a tree that brings death.
When man fashions religions that reflect the traditions of men and not the commandments of God, he is eating from a tree that brings death. And although many of man’s attempts at crafting his own moral world may appear harmless, they most assuredly are not. If man can take one bite of that forbidden tree, another man can take two, And before long, man will become a veritable glutton for its fruit.
At this point, it is important to understand that the tree of the knowledge of good and evil represents everything God is NOT. That tree was toxic in the beginning, and it remains toxic to this day. In short, it was and is NOT God’s tree. That is why He warned man not to touch it. To be sure, God consented to this tree being planted in Eden. But He most assuredly did not create what it represents. God is not the architect of self-will. He is the architect of righteous judgment (Isa.11:1-4).
Literal Trees?
There are some who believe that the two trees spoken of in the book of Genesis were literal fruit-bearing trees. Furthermore, some believe that the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was not lethal, but rather the act of defiance to God’s command is what would bring death. In other words, God created both trees and gave the command regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to see if Adam and Eve would obey Him as opposed to making a decision based on their own moral standard. This belief is quite plausible and may very well be what took place. However, it doesn’t change anything. The issue in the garden of Eden was whether man would trust God or trust himself.
Regrettably, the power of moral self-determination is immensely appealing. It certainly was to the great archangel Lucifer. This spectacular angelic creature thought he could be his own moral judge and decide for himself what was good and what was evil. However, that belief led to his own moral destruction. And regardless of how hard Satan tries to promote the idea that one should be able to direct his own moral path, that path will always lead to the same place: DEATH.
The great tragedy to this story is that there was another tree in that garden – one whose fruit was so different. It was a tree that would sustain the perfection God had created when He renewed the face of the earth.
The Tree of Life
When God warned Adam and Eve to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He was not arguing that this tree lacked appeal. He knew otherwise. However, as appealing as it was, it could only lead to misery and death.
However, there was another tree in that garden – a tree that would bring great hope and joy. It was a tree whose fruit would engender life. With this in mind, is it possible to know specifically what this tree was?
What is the Tree of Life?
The short answer to this question is that the tree of life is everything the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not. But is there more? To better understand what this tree is, consider its name. It is called the "Tree of Life." Therefore, it seems logical to ask: what is it that brings life?
Earlier we saw that moral “self-determination” leads to death, and is symbolized by a forbidden tree. This being the case, is it possible that the tree of life is the rejection of moral “self-determination?” Is it possible that the tree of life symbolizes God’s will and His moral authority over our lives? In other words, by partaking of this tree, you are acknowledging God as the sole moral force in your life. In essence, you are surrendering your will to Him.
If this is the case, then the tree of life embodies all that is Godly, including His will, His law, and His word. This is not to suggest that God wants intellectual “robots” in His Kingdom. What God is conveying through His word is that He is the source of moral excellence, and as such, man needs to rely on Him. By doing so, man will avoid a self-destructive path and instead will travel a road that will lead to eternity. The key to this road is to honor God’s word.
The scriptures reveal that God’s word brings life. The Bible is a book of life. It reflects the wisdom of the very Creator of all things. Kind David expressed great insight into the life-giving properties of God’s word. His thoughts as expressed throughout the Psalms acknowledge the Creator as sovereign over all that exists, including morality. He actually declared that God’s moral judgments, as reflected in His law, have the power to PRESERVE LIFE.
The 119th Psalm was dedicated to the greatness of God’s law. Its words are compelling and true. Here, David is appealing to his Creator for that which possesses life-sustaining properties. Consider this king’s words.
Quicken me according to your word. (Psa.119:25)
Quicken me in your way. (v. 37)
Quicken me in your righteousness. (v. 40)
Your word has quickened me. (v. 50)
Quicken me, O Lord, according to Your word. (v. 107)
Quicken me, O Lord, according to Your judgments. (v. 149)
Quicken me according to Your word. (v. 154)
Quicken me according to Your judgments. (v. 156)
The Hebrew word for “quicken” used in each of these verses is khawyaw. Literally translated, this word means: “to revive,” “to keep or make alive,” “to nourish or preserve,” and “to restore to life.” The point here is that God’s word sustains life. In the very same way that God breathed life into man, He breathed life into His word. The apostle Paul acknowledged this profound truth in his second epistle to the evangelist Timothy.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That man may be perfect, throughly finished unto all good works. (2Tim. 3:16-17)
The word for “inspiration” used by Paul in this passage comes from a term that literally means “divinely breathed in.” When Paul stated that all scripture is given by “inspiration,” he was declaring that it was “God-breathed.” His breath gives His word life in the same way His breath gave Adam and Eve life.
Choose Life
When God placed Adam and Eve in the garden He had prepared for them, He was giving them the opportunity to define how the world of the future would be. If it was to be a place of great peace and prosperity, they would have to forsake their own moral will and instead yield to the moral authority of the Great Architect of hope.
On the other hand, Adam and Eve could go it alone, and see what the world would look like with man as the great moral authority. The choice was theirs to make. God gave them that power. However, He also exhorted them to choose wisely.
As Adam and Eve pondered the words of their Creator, they continued to explore the richness of a world designed by none other than God Himself. It was a beautiful world. Everything about it reflected God’s wisdom and love. Little did they know that very shortly their world was going to change dramatically...