God forbade Adam and Eve from eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but they disobeyed. Once their eyes were opened to their sin, they were banished from the Garden so they could not eat of the tree of life and live forever (Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24). Physical death for humanity was the result but with the possibility of resurrection unto eternal life.

While the image of a “tree of life” is used metaphorically in the book of Proverbs, the tree of life from the Garden of Eden does not appear in Scripture again until it is found in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 2:7; 22:2, 14). There it is described as a source of life for all who eat of its fruit. Mankind was banned from eating of the tree of life after the Fall but is welcome to eat of its fruit in the eternal city.

Praise God today that He has made provision for not only the forgiveness of sin but also for eternal life in His presence.

We have been created for eternal life.
Alister McGrath