BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN.

Genesis 3 tells of an event that has been labeled "The Fall". In this passage much can be learned. The location of the "Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil" is here. The process by which Adam and Eve became aware of their nakedness, and the entire reason why they had to leave the Garden is recorded here as well. First, I want to focus on Genesis 3:13 where the woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate.". Deceive is defined according to the dictionary as "To cause (a person) to believe what is not true.". Thus, the implication is, that Adam and Eve in their perfect state were endowed with the quality of fallibility. Fallibility is defined as the capability of making an error. So, if man in his perfect state before "The Fall" was capable of believing in something that was not true, how can man be skilled at the process of knowing the truth after "The Fall"? It is possible that this will come about, but as yet, is still to be completely comprehended. My point here is that the ability to believe is a double-edged sword. It is a wondrous tool to cut to the truth, but it is also a foible that has helped to bring about the banishment from the Garden.

If reference is made to the first seven verses of Genesis 3 one would find the availability of the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil"; it was in the middle of the Garden, which means that it would have been happened upon from any direction. One would also find that there was more to "The Fall" than just the eating of the forbidden fruit. From the perspective of man solely, first, there was an error in what was believed (psychological aspect). Secondly, there was the task of taking and eating (physical aspect). And finally, there was the physiological response (chemical aspect) of guilt.

In Genesis 3:22, 23 it is written, "And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of Us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, ... " According to the dictionary the definition for "therefore" is, "for that reason", or "because of that". So, the complete reason why Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden was to keep them from eating from the Tree of Life and living forever at that time. The final verse of Genesis 3 says, "He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." Again, the Tree of Life was to be protected and kept from man.

In Revelation 22:2 the Tree of Life is once again reinstated to man. Revelation 22:14 says, "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Therefore even though man was banished from the Tree of Life there will come a time when he will once again be able to partake of it. It makes sense to me that one should strive to understand the concept of the Tree of Life along with the nature of disease so that once these things come about he should not forfeit his place in God's kingdom. See Contract.

This page was first created in the summer of 1999 and last revised on January 17, 2022.