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When a child disobeys a loving parent, the parent
must exact discipline. The loving parent's disipline is, however, always for the child's good. In Genesis, God expels
Adam and Eve from the garden of Eden, and right before expelling them, He says, "lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the
tree of life, and eat, and live forever:" (v22) I believe this comment from God shows us the meaning of the discipline.
Man had sinned, so that until he was redeemed, he was separated from God. Had Adam and Eve eaten the tree of life in this state,
they would never have died, and they would have lived forever in separation from God. What I have just described is, in my
opinion, one of the most important facets of hell: Eternal separation from God.
God did not want His children to be separated from Him, so He denied them, temporarily, the tree of life.
I say temporarily because in Revelation 22:2, the tree of life is promised to the redeemed
children of God.
Related Scriptures:
- Genesis 3:22-24