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I previously wrote about how, shortly after my mother’s death, I had happened upon a craft fair and purchased a tree of life necklace. That ancient symbol has so many meanings that I chose to address it in general terms first, then write a second post to focus specifically on what the Scriptures have to say.

As I first slipped the pendant around my neck, biblical passages in which the tree of life symbolizes eternal life—life after this life—came to mind and brought comfort to my grieving heart. While there are references to this tree in various parts of the Bible, the ones that sprang to mind are in the beginning (second chapter of Genesis) and the end (last chapter of Revelation). In a sense, they form bookends on the whole redemption story.

I thought of the creation story in Genesis chapter 2. I found it reassuring that death—that stark, unavoidable reality of our world— was not in God’s original plan for humanity. In Genesis 2, we read that the Almighty not only breathed life into the first human beings, he also gave them what was needed in order to sustain that life. God had planted a garden in Eden, and placed mankind there. It sounds idyllic, with a river watering the garden. There were all sorts of trees, and right in the middle was the tree of life. Adam and Eve were invited to eat freely of it. Just imagine—full access to fruit that would keep them healthy forever! Pause on this thought for just a moment, because we all know what happened next. Having been told not to eat of the other tree in the middle of the garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they wanted more and had to find out what they were missing. And… the consequences of that choice fell on Adam, Eve, and the land with such severity that God could not let Adam and Eve live forever in that condition. They had to leave the garden and were prevented from returning to eat the fruit of the life-giving tree (Gen. 3:22-24).

Adam and Eve were banned from the garden, and it’s pretty clear that this place we now live in is not Eden. However, listen to these words from Revelation 2:7, “… To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” Adam and Eve may have been banned from its vicinity, but I love knowing the tree of life still exists.

We get to see that tree again in Revelation 22:2. Let’s soak in the awe-inspiring scene of refreshment and life. “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” (I like to think of “yielding it’s fruit every month” as theCreator’s very own Fruit of the Month club!) John’s description of his vision echoes that of the prophet Ezekiel. In Ezekiel chapter 47, after describing a river flowing from the temple of God, we read, “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing” (Ezekiel 47:12). I have always loved that provision for healing. As I thought of the last years of my mother’s life, and of her death, it meant the world to me.

Mom lived a long life and she encountered many difficulties. For half of her life, she battled severe osteoporosis. I used to say that she had suffered as many broken bones as the stunt motorcyclist, Evel Knievel. Doctors could give her pain meds while the fractures healed, and put a metal rod in her leg. Yet, each fracture took its toll. Modern medicine simply could not truly fix her, good as new. As Mom aged, there were other issues. In her last year, she was bed-ridden and painful wounds developed. As devoted as the nurses were, they could do nothing more than reposition her and clean and bandage the wounds. Her skin had simply lost its ability to heal. One day, Mom was lucid enough to ask what she was doing wrong—as if a change in diet or a certain exercise would restore her health. Sadly, what she really needed was a whole new body. Only the Creator, the One who lovingly made her, could provide that new body and truly restore her to health. (See 1 Cor. 15:35-54.) Thinking of the tree of life reminds me of God’s plan for ultimate healing … for my mother … and for all God’s children.