I heard this wonderful analogy today and I wish I could take credit for the original thought, but I had to write about it.
We all know the story of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. The garden was lush and the Lord created it with every plant and living thing imaginable. Everything man would need and then some to live an ideal life. No stress, no worry and nothing to do but tend to the garden and enjoy God’s creation. God set Adam and Eve up perfectly. Their only other task was to follow God’s instruction. But that’s not exactly where this story ends is it? Because man did what man does and became selfish. They did the one thing God explicitly told them NOT to do. They ate of the Tree of Life. They allowed themselves to give into the temptation. When they were confronted, they were ashamed of themselves… as we all are when we disappoint God. As punishment, God cursed man and expelled them out of the garden, the perfect place He had created for them. We’re good at that aren’t we? God blesses us so beautifully and we waste no time straying off of God’s path and following our own messed up plans.
Genesis 2: 16-17 ‘And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest there of thou shalt surely die.’
There’s another garden in the Bible… the garden of Gethsemane. It’s located at the base of the Mount of Olives. It’s a place of pressure. In fact, the name itself means ‘olive pressing’. This is the garden where Jesus prayed before he was led to his crucifixion. The place where he was betrayed by Judas. The place where his disciples slept while Jesus prayed and sweated blood, asking for God to take the cup from him that he was about to experience. He knew his father’s will, and as much as he dreaded it, he still followed.
Matthew 26: 42 ‘He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.’
These two gardens led to completely different places. The garden of Eden turned out to be a place of man’s selfishness and sin. It ultimately led to the curse of man. It was a place of temptation.. a place of ignoring God’s instruction and following man’s own desires. In spite of it’s beauty and lusciousness, man was driven out of it for his disobedience. it ultimately led to destruction.
The garden of Gethsemane led to a completely different place. Yes, it’s a place of pressure and anxiety.. and agony. A place of betrayal by man. But it’s also a place of following God’s will. A place of obedience despite the incredibly difficult path God was asking Jesus to follow. It ultimately led to the cross. Jesus knew the path that was before him and as much as he dreaded it…he obeyed and fulfilled his father’s will. Look where that led! It led to our undeserved salvation and God’s amazing grace.
When you think about it, it was because of one man that sin entered the world. In contrast, it was through one man that we were saved from it.
So, my question for you would be… which garden will you choose to live in? Will you live in the garden that appears to satisfy your own desires? The one that lets you follow your own path, ignoring God’s will and plan for your life? I guarantee you that leads to sin and destruction despite how desirable it may seem on the surface. Or will you choose to live in the garden of God’s will? The garden that may be uncomfortable at times. A place where you may not be able to understand why you have to suffer and experience the things that you do. However, this is also the place where God walks with you. I promise you if you follow His will it leads His amazing grace and blessings.
Will you follow God’s plan? Will you follow Him through that garden? The destination on the other side will be in the presence of God and more beautiful than you can ever imagine.