A GARDEN IN THE BIBLE The Garden of Eden: Fellowship with God the Father and Jesus our Friend
Genesis 2:8 "And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed."
God in His glory was lonely for fellowship and made man for this purpose: that man would choose to love Him, and give Him glory and praise. He gave man a free will to love Him or reject Him. The first thing He did for man was to plant a garden. This garden had all the things necessary for a satisfying life: beauty, food, water and fellowship with God. So many people today are trying to "get back to the garden" by being environmentally conscientious. They are so careful not to harm the environment, but they have left out the main ingredient from the garden of Eden - fellowship with God! For in the heart of every man is a vacuum that can only be filled by God Himself. (That is why I am so against the "save the world" ppl.)
Before Adam fell in sin, God the Father would come walking in the cool of each day to spend time with him. They would have a good time of fellowship together. God has manifested Himself through nature. Romans 1:19-20 "Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:"
We have only to look at the world around us to realize that an awesome God had to be responsible for its creation. When we are surrounded by the beauty of nature, it is only natural for our thoughts to turn toward God. We can feel closer to Him as we enjoy His creation.
We can also feel the presence of Jesus our friend through worship and prayer. The great song "In the Garden" tells of the fellowship we have with our Lord in the garden. When we have accepted Him in our heart, then He becomes our friend. John 15:13,15 reads:
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends Henceforth I call you not servants,' for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth but I I have called you friends."Proverbs 18:24 "A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother."
When we have fellowship with Jesus, our fiiendship is kept fresh and sweet each day.
Finding The Father's Will Through a Bitter Experience:
Matt 26:36 "Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder." John 18:1 "When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples."
Sometime, sooner or later, in the life of every Christian will come a time to face a bitter experience. Jesus, faced with the fact that He would become sin, and that fellowship with His Father would be broken, found His way to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Dreading the bitter cup He was about to drink, He prayed,
"Oh, my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me." Luke 22:44 says "And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
Many have found out during hard, bitter times that we tend to pray more earnestly! It is then we realize how utterly dependent we are on the Lord, and how desperate we are for His help. In I Samuel 1:10 Hannah was in bitterness of soul and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore. Jesus also prayed, "Nevertheless not my will, but thine be done."
Christians who go through bitter trials must also submit to the will of the Father and realize that He is in total control. No matter what the experience, we must ultimately deal with the fact that God allowed it to happen. We can either become bitter or hard, or submit to it and become broken. If we realize that we are in His will, we can have peace in our hearts. As the wonderful old hymm proclaims - Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus - just to rest upon His word.."
