Tragic Tree

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17).  “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and He shall sustain thee” (Psalm 55:22).  “The LORD trieth the hearts” (Proverbs 17:3).  “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face” (1 Corinthians 13:12). 

 

As we review those early days

When Adam walked in innocence,

We see there was a tragic phase

Which tested his obedience.

 

How great the blessings were from God

Regarding every need of man. 

The only tree that God outlawed

Was thus forbidden by His ban.    

 

There surely was no valid reason

For Adam then to disbelieve,

Still God could see that tragic season

When Satan’s mischief would deceive.   

 

The warning from our God was plain: 

The day you eat thereof you’ll die. 

This warning surely was not vain,

For death is more than meets the eye. 

 

The death which would occur that day

Would bring a dreadful separation

Between mankind who went astray

And God, the Lord of all creation. 

 

But God foresaw His remedy,

Though mankind’s future looked so grim,

For Christ would go to Calvary

With all our burden laid on Him! 

 

The Lord now tries the hearts of all

Before we meet Him face to face.

No less than Adam at the Fall,

We all now need His saving grace! 

 

O Lord, we praise You for the light

Which shows the gravity of sin,

Revealing how You fought our fight

To rescue souls You died to win. 

 

How tragic was that tree, O Lord,  

Where Adam, like us all, thus failed!

How spotless was Your life outpoured

Upon the cross where You prevailed!

 

Your love, O Lord, is marvelous,

Which saves us from eternal hell. 

Until the day You gather us,

We pray for others we may tell.