Reading: Genesis 1-3
Daily Focus Verse: “And the LORD God said, ‘The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”(Genesis 3:23).
Devotion: It seems striking that man would not be given the fruit of eternal life, yet God’s grand plan seems to desire eternal life for mankind with God. What’s the distinction between immorality from the tree of life, and eternal life with God? Is it perhaps that God knows we will not do well living here forever? If creation is fallen it would seem a pretty terrible lot to live immortally here on earth the way things are. So, if the fruit of life means immortality on this broken planet and immortal suffering—whereas God’s plan is for redemption and eternal life with God—then this is actually a showing of God’s grace and love towards Adam and Eve. Before the fall the tree of life is part of an eternity with God, but after the fall when the relationship with God is cut off, it means an eternity apart from God. I’m sure glad that in Christ we don’t have to live here forever. Yes the tree of life could prevent death in this life, but it would also prevent new life in Christ in our eternal life. Dying and death is a difficult part of this life, but it is in dying that we can be reborn into eternity with Christ.
Prayer: LORD sometimes what we see doesn’t make sense, but we know that you are always working for our good because you want to be in relationship with us and love us. God we pray to you today that in the midst of suffering, pain, and death we would be reminded that we have life in You. Help us to focus on our eternal life in You today Lord, and not on the death and decay around us. Amen.
Additional scripture: “Be strong and courageous! For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)