A Safe Environment for Growth

Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. 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. A river watering the garden flowed from Eden…The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. (Genesis 2:5-15 [NIV])

God had a perfect picture in mind when creating mankind.  God placed us in the middle of this perfect picture: the Garden of Eden.  When we failed to live according to God’s design, though, we we turned our backs on God, turned against each other, and were kicked out of the Garden.  Over time, we got so bad “that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time” (Genesis 6:5 [NIV]).  God wiped out the earth, restarted the Garden, and preserved the family of Noah.  God promised: "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease" (Genesis 8:22 [NIV]).  We were back in the Garden.

It wasn’t long, though, before we turned away from God and turned against one another again.  God has continued to work with us throughout history to bring us back to a Garden Walk.  One day, God will wipe out all the earth again.  God will created a new heaven and a new earth.

[T]he angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22:1-5 [NIV])

Until that day, God has given us everything we need to return home to God, to walk with God, and to empower, equip, and encourage others in their walk together with God.

By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share His divine nature and escape the world's corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:3-8 NLT)

When we love God and people in this way, we create safe places.  First, we become safe people to be around and people grow because they are near to us.  Then our homes become safe havens and all who enter them grow because of their time in them.  Finally, our churches become safe environments for growth.  All who participate in Christ’s Body grow because the environment is conducive to their growth.  Through us, God creates mini-gardens: greenhouses if you will.  These greenhouses give people a reminder of the past, a glimpse of the future, and a safe environment for today where we can walk together with God.

Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila (Acts 18:18 [NIV]).

How about you?  Have you experienced a safe environment for growth?  Do you create a safe environment for growth? Are you, like Paul, a protector?