God has invited us to partake of the tree of life. Throughout history, society has traditionally sought out the other tree—bearing the forbidden fruit. Some few would pursue the path of eternal life.

In the beginning, Adam and Eve seemed to overlook the wonderful tree of life. Perhaps its appearance was not so outstanding. Although when the tree of life is described in the last book of the Bible, its effect is described as most extraordinary:

"In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations" (Revelation 22:2).

In the Garden of Eden, Eve's curiosity was inevitably aroused by the appearance of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil:

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate" (Genesis 3:6, emphasis added).

However, had it not been for the strange serpent that hung around the tree, Eve may not have been as readily seduced or enticed. Even though she acknowledged that God, her Father, had forbidden the fruit of this tree, she did not resist this creature. So she was drawn in and evidently overwhelmed by the mysterious, lying spirit.

Once the very first human beings had thus rejected God's way, the tree of life was shut off from them.

Now, in this very end time, God has once more offered us the tree of life, to partake of the fruit of His very Spirit (Galatians 5:22-24; Ephesians 5:9-10). But have we forgotten about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? It seems to have thrived on the earth, feeding on man's insatiable desires. Our Creator said: Don't go there. What choice will we make? Will we choose life?