GETTING BACK TO THE GARDEN

GETTING BACK TO THE GARDEN

Adam and Eve walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden.  They were created to live the way that God had ordained in complete communion with God.  They were aware of the presence of God.  It has been said that until they disobeyed God, the awareness of God’s presence was pre-eminent in their lives.  Their identity was one with God.  I guess you could say that their being and God’s presence were one and the same because they were essentially an extension of God’s glory.  They were clothed with God’s glory and were not in need of any physical clothing because there was no need in an environment where everything is perfect and there is no physical need for clothing.  When you are clothed in the glory of God, there is no need for anything else.

We need to get back to the Garden where we were truly one with the Creator God.  God created a perfect environment where one is loved and cared for and also where there is a purpose.  The purpose they had was to love and be loved by God and love and be loved by their beloved.  They also had a purpose which was to tend the garden.  They lived in a world that was perfect where love was given and received and where they lived in unity with their environment tending and taking care of it. 

How do we get back to the garden?  Can we get back to the Garden?  In Revelation 21:1 and 3 it says, “Then I saw a new sky (heaven) and a new earth, for the former sky and the former earth had passed away (vanished), and there no longer existed any sea.  Then I heard a mighty voice from the throne and I perceived its distinct words, saying, See!   The abode of God is with men, and He will live (encamp, tent) among  them; and they shall be His people, and God shall personally be with them and be their God.  In Revelation 21:4-5 it says, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.  And He Who is seated on the throne said, See!  I make all things new.”

How does that apply to us today?  God did not create us for this world, this world system.  He created us to be in constant communion with Him and His creation.  How can we strive to get there?  We can do it first by having a close relationship with God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  No, we cannot physically walk with God but we can spiritually walk with Him.  We are not cloaked in His glory like Adam and Eve were but we have the Holy Spirit within us to guide us, comfort us, and fill us with God’s love and purpose.  Like Adam and Eve, we do not need to be ashamed of who we were created to be.  We were created to have fellowship with God and to reflect His image.  We need to be a reflection of God’s image here on this earth.  

God made us physical beings, man and woman and we need not be ashamed of our bodies.  God created a masterpiece.  Yes, the world is now saying you can choose your gender.  God created only two genders—male and female.  The world has perverted the human body.  God celebrated His creation.  He is not ashamed of His creation and neither should we. 

Celebrate the gift of one another in marriage which God instituted.  We need to be a light to others.  God says that the Church is His bride.  He has used the example of marriage throughout the Bible to show His love.  In Isaiah 54: 5 it says, “For your Maker is your Husband—the Lord of hosts is His name—and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; the God of the whole earth He is called.”  Don’t be afraid to let the world know that you love each other.  Celebrate the gift that God has given you. 

To the single, to the young, celebrate who you were created to be.  Be the light of Christ living within you.  Remember the song—“They’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they’ll know we are Christians by our love.”  Let’s not just speak the Word of God but live the Word of God by our actions!

We need to get back to the Garden---full circle.  A circle does not have a beginning point nor an ending.  It continues and is unbroken.  Let’s live in God’s world where there is no beginning nor end but full circle, encircled in His everlasting love!!