811.—ACCESS TO THE TREE OF LIFE.
Did Adam and Eve, after the fall, have access to the tree of life? “Patriarchs and Prophets” says, “Adam and Eve had free access to the tree of life.”—Page 47. But on page 49 it says, “Obedience, perfect and perpetual, was the condition of eternal happiness. On this condition he was to have access to the tree of life.” Please harmonize these statements with the teaching that cherubim were placed in the east of the garden, to prevent Adam from eating of the tree of life, and thus becoming an immortal sinner. R. W., Atkinson, Ind. Ans.—The Lord sent Adam and Eve forth from the garden, and placed the cherubim at the east of the garden, which turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life; that is, to keep every one on earth from having access to it. Gen 3:24. And the reason given for this is, “Lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever.” Verse 22. From this it appears that continual access to the tree of life would have enabled Adam and Eve to live forever, even in a state of sin. So they were shut away. The time when they “had free access to the tree of life,” was before the fall; and if they had always lived in perfect obedience, they would have continued to have free access to it. Adam’s life was suspended upon that condition. He failed, and sin came in, and cut him off. No one now has access to the tree of life, because it has been removed from the earth, and is now growing in the midst of the paradise of God in heaven. Rev. 2:7; 22:2. And we secure a right to it, and to eternal life, on the same condition which Adam had; namely, perfect and perpetual obedience. But being sinners, something must be done for us. So Christ comes in, cancels our past sins, and changes our hearts, to bring them into harmony with the law of God, so that we can keep it; and thus we come up to the law of God, at last, through faith in Christ, and have a right to the tree of life, and enter in through the gates into the city. Rev. 22:14. What a blessed plan of salvation! and what harmony and consistency in the government of God!