DAY THIRTY-NINE - BIG PICTURE IN A YEAR - THE PEOPLE

..the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Genesis 2: 9

Reading: Genesis 3: 22-24; Revelation 2: 7; Revelation 22: 2

The Creator did not simply beget mankind and then leave them to their own devices. It’s difficult for us to understand because we live in post-Fall Earth, but in the beginning, God and man dwelt together. And there were certain practices that governed that relationship.

One of those practices was choice and free-will, represented by the two trees that get special mention in Genesis 2 – the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  

When we teach children The Big Picture, we refer to these trees as the Two Great Trees of Power – for that is what they are. The tree of life contains the power to produce eternal or unending life. Adam and Eve are encouraged by God to eat from this tree, the tree that represents the life of God Himself.

The tree of knowledge of good and evil represents the very opposite of life. Adam and Eve are told not to eat from this tree for it will produce death.

Man lives with God, not under duress, but under choice. He is given two options - a life lived in relationship with, and dependence upon, God (life) or, an independent existence driven by self (death).

Will mankind choose to eat from the tree of life, or the tree of the independent knowledge of good and evil?

Prayer

Father, I admit it, sometimes life is very tough here in this fallen world. But I am always encouraged at the hope of living with You forever once again.

For the family

Please all watch this amazing video about the Two Great Trees of Power.