The Gardens of Life
(Genesis 2:8-10)
(Genesis 2:8-10)
Throughout the bible we see several gardens:
We see that God has orchestrated our lives such that from the moment we arrive until the time we leave, we will always be in a garden.
The Purpose of a Garden
Generally, it is a planned space where you plant a seed to grow; it is often planted for beauty or for nourishment.
Genesis 2:8-10 (NKJV) –The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads.
There are several things we should notice in this scripture
Many of us are in the Garden of Eden. This stage of life is where everything is going well. You are living in abundance. However, even in the Garden of Eden, we must be careful to remember, “God did this”. In this garden it’s easy to be comfortable and think you can handle it. We often forget that we still need to spend as much time with God in the Garden of Eden as we do in times of trouble.
Matthew 26:36 (NKJV) – Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.”
This garden is a place of separation and suffering. If Jesus had to go through this garden, what makes us think that we are exempt.
Gethsemane means the oil of pressing. It is a place of crushing.
The Garden of Gethsemane separates people in our lives.
In verse 36 we see that Jesus took His disciples with Him and told them to sit, but in verse 37 we see that Jesus asks Peter, James, and John to go alittle further and watch. However, these disciples kept falling asleep.
The Garden of Gethsemane is where prayer changes.
In verse 39, we see that Jesus fell on His face and prayed. This was a time of great agony and sorrow. And Jesus asked if the cup could pass, but when He came back, He said, “nevertheless…Thy will be done.”
The Garden of Gethsemane is where purpose changes.
This is where we let go of our will and pursue His will.
John 19:41 (NKJV) – Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
In this garden Jesus was crucified. But in this same garden, Jesus was resurrected. Just as we have hopes and dreams that were crushed in the Garden of Gethsemane, know that God can resurrect them. Don’t give up in this garden!
Revelation 2:7 (NKJV) – He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”
This word ‘paradise’ is the same word as Eden in the Old Testament.
“If you could just press through your gardens, in the end you will get back to Eden.” – Pastor Ferne Sapp