Faith That Grows in Every SeasonНамуна

BACK TO THE GARDEN:

I was only twenty years old when my husband and I got married. It’s hard to believe that was 40 years ago.

Some of our wedding anniversaries have attracted more attention than others. On our 1st anniversary, we broke out the obligatory cake topper from the freezer and had a feast. On our 10th anniversary, we took a weekend trip to Little Nashville; it was our first overnight without the kids. Our 25th anniversary, however, garnered the grandest celebration yet. We enjoyed a two-week trip to Paris, France.

I remember the trip like it was yesterday. We enjoyed all the tourist hot spots, including a fancy dinner atop the Eiffel Tower on the actual date of our anniversary. Our favorite excursions were guided tours of castles, several hundred years old. The stone structures were grand. Some were surrounded by moats, others by enchanting gardens. The gardens were incredible!

Being immersed in nature has a way of filling the soul. Gardens have been calling out to the spirit of mankind with their vibrant colors and enchanting aromas since the beginning of time.

“Then God said, 'Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.' And it was so” (Genesis 1:11).

How fitting that the very first garden was planted by God Himself. To say it was beautiful would be an understatement; it was beautiful beyond description. And it was right there in the Garden of Eden that God planted His most spectacular creation of all—mankind.

“Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed” (Genesis 2:8).

Eden was like a little piece of heaven on earth. But sadly, after Adam and Eve sinned, mankind was cast from the Garden.

Although mankind was banished from Eden, God’s plan to have us dwell with Him forever never changed. Thus began God’s rescue plan, His plan to take us back to the Garden.

While I was thinking about that first garden, God reminded me of another garden.

“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid” (John 19:41).

Jesus was not just buried in this garden—He rose from this garden grave to give us new life.

“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot” (John 15:11-12).

It was in the first garden (Eden) that life turned into death. But amazingly, it was in the second garden (the Garden Tomb) that death turned into life.

Halleluiah! Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ we now have the hope of eternal life in heaven with our Creator. A life where we will once again enjoy the heavenly space from which all earthly gardens are patterned.

Deep within our spirit, there is a longing for what was, for what is, and for what will be again. Life turns into death. Death turns into life. What a glorious and wondrous mystery of God.

REFLECTION:

What are some ways you feel or experience the presence of God on earth?

What has God taught you about Himself through those moments and experiences?

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank you for giving us your creation to teach us more about you. Thank you for growing us through good times and bad and in every life experience or season that comes our way. Amen.

To engage with more content like this so you can grow deeper in your faith, check out these devotionals: Living in Truth Day by Day, and Living in Truth Mind, Body, Spirit, written by Rae Lynn DeAngelis, founder and executive director of Living in Truth Ministries.