The relationship between man and God begins in a garden. It is beautiful and functional and there is relationship, joy and shalom. We are His perfect creation – and He calls it good.
But sin roars in and destroys. Chaos ensues wherever man enacts his will over God’s and everything suffers from man’s sin. The relationship between man and God is broken and we are removed from the garden. Even the earth cries out as God begins His restorative plan to bring us back.
The Bible is the message, the love account, from one garden paradise in Genesis to another in Revelation. God always planned to restore beauty and wholeness to His creation. And the journey from one Eden to the other runs right through two gardens in Jerusalem. One garden outside Gethsemane witnessed the weight of surrender; another next to Golgotha has an empty tomb.
There was no other way to get to the final promised garden; no other way to invite us in and allow us to enter. And it was hinted at from the beginning. God had a plan.
We are on a journey to that promised place - one carefully prepared and waiting for all who would come. And there will be perfect joy, shalom and fullness of relationship with God and with each other - just like in the beginning.
To the one who overcomes I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God. Revelation 2:7
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