February 6, 2022

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” Revelation 2:7

Thus closes the letter to Ephesus. And what a thrilling promise! An important distinction to make is that the seven letters are to all professed believers, but the promises are only for each one who heeds the loving warnings and takes the necessary measures toward becoming an overcomer.

The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  Genesis 2:8-9

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So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.  Genesis 3:24

Each of the seven letters in Revelation 2&3 ends with a magnificent promise from Jesus to encourage “him who overcomes”! The thrilling promise of restored access to the tree of life shows us how God desires to recover what was lost due to Satan’s deceptive influence. The existence of the tree of life reveals the love of God. When man lived in harmony with his Maker at the beginning, he had free access to this tree of life: proof of God’s intention for man to live eternally. Something about the fruit of that tree keeps the human body in prime condition of perfect health, as fresh from the hand of God. A consequence of sin was lost access to the tree of life. This is a terrible loss, but even this reveals the mercy of God. He is showing us that sin will not be eternally allowed to continue unchecked. Sin is finite, along with those who choose to cling to sin. God makes it crystal clear that sin and sinners are not immortalized.

“. . . lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.”  Genesis 3:22b

It is vital to understand this teaching, which was put into place for us from the start. Without it we cannot possibly appreciate the work of Jesus on the earth with the goal to restore and reinstate us as partakers of the tree of life. It also protects us from the devil’s deceptive lie: “You will not surely die.” (3:4)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world!” John 16:33