“The Tree of Life” (Part 1)
The phrase, tree of life, appears in the Scriptures ten times. The first three times we read of it are in Genesis (2:9; 3:22, 24). We do not know much about it—what it looked like, what fruit was on it, or how it tasted. Presumably, it would have been pleasant and sweet, with a good flavor. Would Adam and Eve have needed to eat of it continually in order to live forever, or would one bite have done it? God hurried them out of the garden, which might indicate the former, but it is later described as present in eternity, implying that it might be a continual part of mankind’s diet.
Those three references are in the Book of Revelation (2:7; 22:2, 14). The first of these describe the tree of life as being in the midst of the Paradise of God. The middle occurrence describes the tree of life as being on either side of the river of life. It bore twelve different fruits—one for each month—and its leaves are for the healing of the nations. Most Bible students understand the language here to be figurative. God’s people are also said to inhabit a city whose measurements are 12,000 furlongs (length, width, and height) (Rev. 21:16). Then again, some take the new earth literally, which makes all these images difficult to reconcile logically.
To those who say there is nothing man can do to inherit eternal life, Revelation 22:14 disagrees: “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.” How does this verse fit the “grace only,” “faith only” ideology? Does Jesus actually expect His followers to keep His commandments? Those who love Him do (John 14:15, 21). John also wrote: “This is love, that we walk according to His commandments…” (2 John 6). Many false teachers try to make keeping commandments conflict with the concept of love, as though the Christian has an either/or choice, but the fact is that love closely connects with keeping commandments.
The Greek word translated “the right” (to partake of the tree of life) is often translated “authority,” an idea that makes the claim even stronger. This is the same Greek word used in Matthew 28:18 when Jesus told His apostles: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” The Christian who has been obedient to Jesus not only has the right but the authority to eat of the tree of life. Do Christians earn eternal life because of what they do? No, salvation will forever be by the grace of God, but our love for God in return for all He has done for us causes a true disciple to obey the commands He has given to us, which gives us the authority to eat of the fruit of the tree of life.