In The Garden

Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground--trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:8-9 NIV)

Anyone who has been around me for any length of time will tell you that I love to teach about the Garden of Eden.  It’s my favorite starting point for teaching because it is the only place in human history where we see God’s ideal picture for our lives.  We see God providing for our every need, giving us a sense of purpose, and providing companionship for us both in spirit and in flesh.  This ideal picture with the first people showed that they had nothing hidden and nothing to hide.

So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. (Genesis 3:23-24 NIV)

Once people ate the forbidden fruit, however, everything changed.  They were no longer people with nothing to hide.  So, they tried to hide.  They soon found out that their rebellion wasn’t hidden, either.  God knew exactly what they had done.  In this state, God would not allow humanity to live forever – bringing rebellion, sin, and death into eternity.  No, instead they were removed from the garden, separated from the tree of life, and placed in a world where they will work hard in the dust until they return to the dust.  They were kicked out of the garden forever.

God, however, had a plan for reconciling people to Himself.  He would send His Son to receive the death we deserve for eating the forbidden fruit.  In essence, God reopened the gate to the garden again.  God offers access to the tree of life.  There will be a day that the old heaven and earth will pass away and make room for a new heaven and a new earth.  Those who live in that new heaven and new earth with God will be the ones who want to be with God.  They will be the ones who chose God in this life.  They will have access to the tree of life.

Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:38-39 NIV)

How about you?  Have you received forgiveness for the times you have eaten the forbidden fruit?  Have you entered the gate back into the garden?  Will you be able to eat from the tree of life?