You have probably heard jokes about St. Peter standing at the gate to heaven and deciding who gets in and who doesn’t. These jokes are entertaining and we all like a good laugh, but let’s see what the Bible teaches and, as usual, take a look at what Genesis has to say about it.

We know that Adam and Eve had it very nice in the Garden of Eden: all the food they wanted, fellowship with God, no worries, and a beautiful environment; it was paradise. But, unfortunately, they sinned and got kicked out. So there they were sitting outside the garden wondering how to get back in. The garden was still there, and they knew what was inside, but they were sitting outside in a cursed world: Adam facing the thorns and thistles; and Eve facing the pain of child birth and now subject to her husband. This is what the Bible says was stopping them from getting back in:

Genesis 3:24  He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.(ESV)

So, it appears there was only one way into the garden and this way was guarded by a flaming sword and Cherubim (guarding angels). Adam and Eve probably went around to the back of the garden and realized there was only one way in. They may have approached the Cherubim and found it impossible to reason with them or overpower them. Cherubim are very powerful angels; remember, Satan was a Cherub. Adam and Eve had a dilemma; they had to gain authority over the angels and then deal with the flame.

Now, we have the same dilemma as Adam and Eve, how do we get past the Cherubim and the flaming sword? The Cherubim will let no one in, except God, and the fire will consume anyone who is not pure. This theme is consistent with the rest of the Bible. Here are a few passages:

1 Peter 1:7  so that the tested genuineness of your faith–more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire–may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

Matthew 7:14  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (these are the words of Jesus – ESV)

If we want to get in and eat from the tree of life, we must get past the Cherubim and the flame. We need to be perfect and have God take us through; we can do it by faith; by faith we accept the Word of God (Jesus) as truth and put it (Him) in our heart; this allows us to be born of the Spirit, and God’s Holy Spirit dwells inside us. As a result of all of this we are perfectly pure with God’s righteousness and have authority over the Cherubim and protection to get through the fire. We must overcome and the reward is immense:

Romans 4:3  For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” (ESV)

Isaiah 61:10  I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. (ESV)

Revelation 2:7  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’ (Words of Jesus ESV)

Revelation 3:21  The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. (words of Jesus ESV)

My dear friends and children, we cannot get past the Cherubim and through the flame by our own righteousness, nor can we get through with our good works, but we can get through by faith and accepting the death and resurrection of Jesus; He did it all for us.