The Tree of Life is a metaphor for something. What is that something?
Obviously, God does not want us to be Worshipping any Tree even if that Tree has Supernatural Gifts.
As we look at the Scriptures below we will see that the Tree of Life is God.
And out of the Ground made the Lord God to Grow every Tree that is pleasant to the Sight , and Good for Food ; the Tree of Life also in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
The garden contained many natural Trees and it contained two Supernatural Trees.
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 for ever: -
Adam and Eve ate of the Supernatural Tree which created a Conscience in them.
God removed the Tree of Life from the garden to prevent fallen man from Living forever. He removed Himself from their Physical presence.
She is a Tree of Life to them that lay hold upon her: and Happy is every one that retaineth her. -
This verse is speaking of Wisdom. Wisdom is an attribute of God which man must Seek after as he does for all things of God.
The Fruit of the Righteous is a Tree of Life ; and he that winneth Souls is Wise.
A Righteous , Godly person allows God to Work through them. It is God that produces Good Fruit - Fruit that has eternal value.
Hope deferred maketh the Heart Sick : but when the Desire cometh, it is a Tree of Life.
Hope comes from and is based on God else it is just wishing.
A Wholesome Tongue is a Tree of Life : but perverseness therein is a breach in the Spirit.
Goodness , Wholesomeness comes from God. The Heart of man is desperately Wicked. -
He that hath an Ear , let him Hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh Will I Give to eat of the Tree of Life , which is in the midst of the paradise of God. -
We Overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our Testimony. -
When we Magnify the Sacrifice of Christ Jesus by Testifying of Him we will eat of the Tree of Life. We will Live in Paradise.
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the River , was there the Tree of Life , which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her Fruit every month: and the leaves of the Tree were for the Healing of the nations. -
Obviously something so prominent as the Tree of Life which sits in the middle of the River of Life and on either side of it would be an object of admiration and Worship.
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. -
Jesus said that we Abide in His Love if we keep His Commandments. -
Abiding in His Love provides us access to the Kingdom of God and to the Tree of Life therein.
We are commanded not to Worship anything other than Creator God. -
As we see from the above beautiful, powerful wonderful descriptions of the Tree of Life , it would be easy to Worship such a thing.
God who is beyond our ability to grasp in His Greatness , Goodness and Glory appears metaphorically as the Tree of Life.
Abraham was told in the very beginning of his Relationship with God :
After these things the Word of the LORD came unto Abram in a Vision , saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy Shield , and thy exceeding Great reward. -
If it helps you to imagine Trees , rivers, golden streets, gates of pearl, etc. to get excited about Heaven , so be it. But when we open our Eyes to the Truth about our Creator God who is also our Saviour we will be so amazed at Him that all else around Him will pale.
Heaven is our future in Christ. But Heaven is here now. Jesus told us that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. -
Jesus commanded us His Disciples to Preach that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.
The Kingdom of Heaven is here and now. -
We are New creatures. -
We are in Christ. -
We are filled with His Spirit. -
We have been given all things for Life and Godliness. -
We are now the Sons of God. -
We can approach God boldly for all our needs. -
In conclusion, God is the Tree of Life. There is no Life apart from Him. His Life is Abundant and Eternal.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way , the Truth , and the Life : no man cometh unto the Father , but by me. -