We have explored the meaning of the two trees in the Garden of Eden. Now we must try to discover their purpose. For what purpose do these two kingdoms exist?

I realise that this is a philosophical question too big to explore here. However, there is one issue, relating to this subject, of great importance to us.

Since God created humans in His image, He gave us the gift of choice. He did not create robots programmed to love Him. He created people with the freedom to love Him or not to love Him.

The overriding rule in His kingdom is love, which determines every word and action of every being under His authority. However, this love must be a choice. Love is only authentic when, by freely choosing to love, all other choices are excluded. Loving God means choosing to submit to and expresses itself by freely accepting God’s authority, and living in obedience to His will.

John 14:21 NLT
[21] “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.

One of God’s high-ranking angels chose not to love Him, setting up a rival “kingdom”, making self-will the nature of this rule. He chose to rebel and overthrow the rule of love. His government includes whatever is not God or God’s way.

For God to test His first son’s love for Him, He gave him the option of choosing between His rule or self-rule by permitting the intrusion of His arch-enemy. This was not a happenstance. This was carefully planned. God knew the outcome before it happened and He also planned His solution before He set the whole process in motion.

So, for God to create and develop His forever family of sons and daughters like His own Son, each one, individually, had to come under His rule by freely choosing to eat from the tree of life. He selected every believer-to-be before time, called them out of the dominion of darkness in time, and set them on the path to live and love in His kingdom of light on this earth within this world system controlled by Satan for eternity.

Ephesians 1:4-8 NLT
[4] “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. [5] God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. [6] So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. [7] He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. [8] He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”

All this for one purpose…to show those in the rival kingdom who is God and how great He is!

Ephesians 3:10-11 NLT
[10]”God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. [11] This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You see, it’s all about Him.

So, there are only two kingdoms that exist in the world. They function in the unseen realm but influence the way people live and behave in the earthly kingdoms in which He placed them. Each individual must make the choice to come under one of two authorities, God’s approved and appointed ruler, Jesus…

Philippians 2:9-11 NLT
[9] “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

or Satan, the god of this world.

Matthew 4:8-9 NLT
[8]”Next the devil took him (Jesus) to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. [9] “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

God sets in motion the direction, the processes, and the destiny that our choice determines. For those who choose life, He give grace to live under His rule. To those who choose self-will, He gives them over to what they want.

Our eternal outcome depends on the choices we make now.

To be concluded…