THE HUMAN CONDITION

Anyone who has read the Bible, from the first to the last page, knows that it begins and ends with an enigmatic “tree of life” (Genesis 2.9). Certainly, this does not happen for a simple reason. What is the meaning of this "tree", since it occupies relevant positions in biblical prophecy? This Scripture theme is one of those many for which we do not reach an in-depth understanding. However, it is possible to talk about it with regard to the human condition.

The "tree of life" has its first appearance in the biblical text, in the context of the narrative of the Fall, that is, at the moment when man decides to depart from God. The first man was allowed to eat from any tree of Eden, even from it, from the "tree of life," except eating from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" (Genesis 2: 16,17). It should be noted, however, that there are no elements in the text that indicate that this order of the Creator derives from material circumstances. That is, it is not a matter of the existence or not of chemical substances in the trees that would do good or bad to the man.

The meaning of this divine recommendation, to eat from the "tree of life" and not to eat from the "tree of the knowledge of good and evil" is indeed of a spiritual nature. Acting the human being according to this order of God, he would be living according to the divine will, under a moral discernment that came from the Creator himself. On the other hand, breaking this determination, Adam would be seeking his own moral orientation, an autonomous life in relation to God [1].

At this point in our reflection, we notice three important aspects to consider: the human condition of "being created”, its freedom to make decisions according to its conscience and the divine will. Created in the image and likeness of God, the first man was endowed with freedom, but this could not conflict with the divine will. As a "being created” in the image of his Creator, man could do much, but not everything. His condition of "created" imposed limits that should not be exceeded. Doing so would change his nature, for he was created to act according to the divine will.

Adam made use of his freedom to the extreme. His decision to act in disagreement with his essence sent humanity into the exile of a new existence [2], marked by suffering, pain and death. God, however, by his great love for man, through the Son, Jesus Christ, opened a way back to the original condition (John 14: 6). The Creator, in the person of the Son, became a creature, lived among us in the pattern of the divine will and opened a way back to God through his death and resurrection (John 16:28). Today humanity lives according to its own will, far from God. That is why Jesus, in the Lord’s Prayer, taught us to ask the Father that his “will be done on earth as it is in heaven". The biblical text ends with men living in the will of the Creator and nourishing themselves with the "tree of life" (Rev 22:1-2).

Antônio Maia – M.Div.

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