Scriptural Reference:

Genesis 3:22-24 (NKJV)
22 Then the LORD God said, Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever? 23 therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

Reflection:

Most are familiar with the story of the great fall of Adam and Eve. How the Serpent deceived Eve with the promise of perfect knowledge such as God had. Followed by Eve sharing the fruit with Adam. Though sadly in this Post Christian World the story has become distorted and even forgotten. To the point that the reason they were evicted from the garden has been mostly forgotten. A surprising reason that seems as enigmatic and puzzling as it is complete in its' conclusion.

Understandably Adam and Eve had been living in perfect harmony. With an amazing closeness with God that is completely foreign to us. As well as a sincerity and harmonious innocence that made life ideal. Yes, the climate or weather must have been such that the lack of clothes would have been normal. No sudden chills to baffle and make either of them to question what might be good to keep them warm. Nor any embarrassment over the nakedness. As they were in a state of a childlike innocence Not seeing anything in a crude or over complicated way.

So, as I digress slightly, let's get back to the question. Why did God evict them after he had told them the penalty for what they had done. When he could well have allowed them to stay there in the garden. Suffering from the punishment and ongoing guilt of breaking Gods' trust. That would have been reasonable as God had set them apart for a special closeness and purpose of a close knit relationship with him. The rest of the World was moving along separate (Yes another post for another time), while Adam and Eve could have well been allowed to stay and cultivate the garden as they had been intended to do.

The answer is easily found in the verses above. "Lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever". So essentially there were two trees within the garden. The first is the Tree of Knowledge or the Tree of Good and Evil. While the second tree that is not mentioned until after the fall is the Tree of Life or Immortality. It is for the reason and concern that as they had taken the rough path of the knowledge of good and evil they would then reach out and grab from this tree as well.

Did they even know the tree existed in the garden? Perhaps they didn't know about it. Or perhaps as they were in a state of purity an innocence they were unaware of what the tree was good for. In either case, the knowledge that they gained from the first tree gave them an understanding that God was not ready to let them continue to err with. By considering the obvious outcome of their new knowledge, God was moved to take the drastic step of removing them from an amazing place that had been created just for them. Which can easily lead into the next paragraph and slight meandering.

When someone complains that Life was not meant to be easy; we can easily smile and say to them "But it was meant to be easy, just remember what we lost in the garden so many ages ago".

There is yet one last thought that I feel obliged to mention. This lost garden can be rediscovered in the heart and mind of a born again Christian. A process that is called Visualisation. I am currently working on a book that will help explain how Christians can enter into prayer and meditation on the Word in such a special way as to return to the garden that is inside of each of us.

Prayer:

Heavenly father,
I pray your Holy name,
With love and fear,
With Awe and respect,
I turn all my thoughts towards you,
As I seek the comfort of the Holy Spirit,
In this time of faithful worship.
Take my heart and soul,
My Thoughts and words,
My very being,
And make it perfect with your will.

Amen