"The LORD God planted a garden toward the east, in Eden; and there He placed the man whom He had formed. 9Out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasing to the sight and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil."(Gen. 2:8-9)
Last month we visited Isaiah 58 and noted that those who keep God’s chosen fast are like a watered garden. That image provides the starting point for our thoughts here.
The Hebrew word for garden is ganan and its derivatives and it carries the idea of a fenced or protected area. God placed the first family in such a protected area and provided for their every need.
One might wonder how, if they were so protected, the Tempter was able to gain access to them and thus provoke them to rebellion. As we will see, there are some interesting observations and applications to be made here.
In the mid-twentieth century, we entered an era where the threat of a nuclear holocaust heightened fears which remain, to this day, very real. In spite of that threat, this nation’s enemies have regularly reminded us that America will succumb not to the overpowering force of armed conflict but, instead, will collapse from within due to the compromising of its moral fabric.
That observation is hardly new. It is always the case whether it is an individual or a nation that hangs in the balance. Adam and Eve were hardly powerless in the confrontation with Lucifer. They had the upper hand. They were on the side of Creator God and, had they chosen to live within the hedge He provided, victory was certain.
Genesis 2:15 tells us, "Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."
Notice that the responsibility was not just to till the soil and tend the plants in the garden, but to "keep it."
The Hebrew word here is shamar and means to protect or guard watchfully. As far as we know, they were faithful in cultivating the garden as God had commanded. It is the second aspect of God’s command that is called into question.
Just how is it that the Enemy came to be present in the garden? Who was supposed to be on watch? I hope you find that to be as interesting as question as I do. With a little reflection, I think it not unreasonable to conclude that the watchmen failed to guard that entrusted to them.
More than that, they magnified that failure by forming an alliance with the Enemy. The garden of God was infiltrated by the Enemy because the first couple failed to guard the garden of their hearts.
Their dominion included their own hearts. God equipped them to do that which He commanded. He did not require something of them which was impossible. The choice was theirs and they chose not to subject their hearts to God’s command.
That lack of diligence opened the door of God’s creation to evil occupation and the rest is history.
Even as judgment fell upon Adam and Eve, God had a plan to redeem fallen humankind. The climax of redemptive history would be reached in another garden, thousands of years in the future.
"Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to His disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and distressed. Then He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt." (Matt. 26:36-39)
Space prohibits including all the story here so I hope you will at least rehearse it from memory or, better yet, open your Bible and take a few minutes to reflect on the events recorded here.
These men knew the story of the fall very well. They knew the importance of diligence. They have sworn allegiance to Jesus in the boldest terms and now comes the test: "...keep watch with Me."
One might have hoped for a better outcome, Jesus certainly did. Each time He returned and found them sleeping His grief for them deepened. His grief was not for what He was about to endure but for what their failure would cost them.
Sure, Peter was ready to fight when the moment came, but having failed to keep watch, he was not equipped to face the moment in a way that honored the purposes of God and Christ quickly corrected his error.
Immobilized by fear, the disciples abandon their Master. They are nowhere to be found in the hearings before the Sanhedrin, Pilate or Herod. They might have been willing to do battle, but terror gripped their souls at the thought of publicly answering a simple question, "Who do you say that I am?"
Throughout the centuries since, answering that question has always had a price. For Christians, the price is paid during our earthly stay. For those who deny Christ as Lord and Savior the price is an eternal one.
"Watch and wait with me" – the words of the Master still call to us today. He would have us be diligent about the walk to which He has called us. We are a new creation in Him and He has made our hearts His garden. May they be well-tended.
"Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you." (2 Tim. 1:8-14)
What is the source our keeping power? Many believe God has left that up to us as individuals. If that is the case, we are all in deep trouble!
We must certainly be diligent about how we live our lives, but to think that our diligence will ever achieve the excellence in life that God requires is to misunderstand our condition. We can no more live righteous lives in our own strength than we could attain righteousness through our own efforts. It is futile and ultimately prideful to even try.
Righteousness is a matter of being not doing. It surely results in doing, but it is not achieved by doing. The difference in perspective is as huge as the limited view under the Old Covenant and the glorious view from its consummation in Christ.
In the passage above, Paul makes it clear that what has been accomplished is not according to the works of man. Paul says that he is convinced God will guard what he has entrusted (his life) to Him. Based on his confidence he exhorts Timothy to do the same thing.
How jealous are we in guarding the faith that we have received? Do we daily feed upon the Word so that the Holy Spirit can quicken our minds and spirits? Are we willing to allow that faith to be exercised so that it grows stronger both in the proclamation of the gospel and in outreach to others?
In short, is our faith firm or flabby? It is easy to feed on the spiritual fast food that is paraded before us today. There is a virtual buffet of offerings which make all sorts of promises but many lack real substance.
They may make an easy read or give us goose bumps when we listen, but if they don’t help us to see our identity in Christ better they are largely a waste of time. The proof of our diet is the health of our faith. Is it stronger than it was ten years ago?
It is easy to quickly say "Yes" to that query but I recommend taking some time to do a little individual accounting before God. Specifically, what evidence is there that our faith is stronger than it was a year ago? How is our walk of faith any different than it was ten years ago?
Most of us have drawn lines on the wall to record the height of our children as they grew. What do the marks on our faith scale suggest about our growth?
Are we more committed than ever to Christ and the living out of the gospel message, or do we find ourselves longing for the zeal we once knew in that regard?
It is easy to fall into a rut (routine on a diet) and just mindlessly go through day after day until it becomes a habit. Let me submit that the Christian life may appear habitual but it must be much more than a habit.
It is a conscious, moment by moment choice founded on a former commitment. While maturity does allow us the advantage of making many choices quickly, we should not allow ourselves to become careless about them.
Making right choices should start to become more natural for us, but at the heart of each choice must be the desire to make the moment a living sacrifice. Paul understood that and was not ashamed of the difficulties it brought.
When our actions become habit, it is easy for us to fall prey to the idea that the action is what ultimately matters. From there, it is a small step to think that the action is all that matters. The Jews made that mistake and we should learn from their example.
"When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kidron, where there was a garden, into which He Himself entered, and His disciples. Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place; for Jesus had often met there with His disciples." (John 18:1-2)
When we think of the word "garden," our minds begin to fill will images of verdant foliage, beautiful colors and lush fruit. However, our experiences at gardening may bring up other images as well! I haven’t gardened in years but God has blessed me with Courtney, a friend and brother whose countless ribbons attest to his superior ability and knowledge in this regard. He has become my mentor in things green, and the applications to life we can draw from our relationship to the soil are many.
Gardens are proving grounds. Anyone who has tried their hand at it knows that. Some years the lack of water destroys the hope of a harvest. In other years, its overabundance beats the crops to the ground or threatens to rot them before they are ready for harvest. Yes, gardens are a place where one is tested.
Notice that the text says, "Jesus had often met there with His disciples." For them the garden was a place of retreat from the pressures of ministry as well as a center for continuing education. On the night of His arrest, the mid-term exam had come.
In his treachery, Judas represents all of us. That is not a comfortable thought. Indeed, the actions of all the disciples in that time of testing provide a quick study in human weakness.
There has been much speculation about the motives of Judas. Some say he was just an opportunist that had no idea his actions would result in his Master’s death. Some see him as a pawn in the hands of an arbitrary God. Still, others, ascribe to him the character of Satan himself. Regardless of how we see him, he graphically demonstrates our basest struggle.
In the garden, the disciples had the opportunity to watch and pray. Judas used the occasion to snatch and prey. His "what’s in it for me" attitude seized his heart and by the time he realized the horror of his action it was too late to stop the madness. Smitten with grief and unable to imagine forgiveness, he chose the path of self-destruction.
One of the most loved old hymns is, "I Come to the Garden Alone." We are moved by the image of walking hand in hand with the Master, receiving His instruction, and enjoying His comforting presence. Our refrain turns to more somber tones, "In the Hour of Trial."
The "garden" to which Christ calls us is about more than teaching and testing. It is about faithfulness in relationship. All the disciples failed our Master but only Judas refused to view that failure as an opportunity to grow.
The Master Gardener routinely prunes from our lives that which saps our energy and stunts our growth. Gardener’s who seek to raise prize winning flowers or fruit often strip a plant of every unnecessary branch and bloom to devote the full energy of the plant or branch to a single bloom or fruit.
How do we react to God’s pruning in our lives? When He removes that which we have come to cherish and take pride in, do we acknowledge the wisdom of His husbandry, or do we recoil in bitterness and resentment? Can we learn to accept His pruning as a necessary part of bringing forth the fulness of fruitfulness He has planned for our lives?
We have little problem being freed of that which we perceive as defective or unfruitful, but yielding that which seems harmless or perhaps even productive is more difficult.
Even the best of us need pruning! There is a story about "The Prince of Preachers," Charles Spurgeon which illustrates this well.
When in the region, Spurgeon loved to visit the beautiful gardens of Monte Carlo. The fact that they were part of the famous gambling complex never caused him concern. A friend of Spurgeon’s never entered the garden and on one occasion, the proprietor, Monsieur Blanc, asked why. Spurgeon was forever struck by the exchange between the two that followed.
His friend responded that it would be unfair to avail himself of the beauty of the area since he had no intention of gambling and, thereby, compensating Blanc. In telling words, Blanc refuted his claim.
"Oh, but your presence would prove profitable to me . . . Were it not for respectable people like you who merely visit the gardens, I would lose many customers who patronize my gambling saloons!"
Blanc explained that many people who would never come to the gardens otherwise, did come when they saw respectable people taking advantage of them. Once in the gardens, those of lesser resolve ended up at his gambling tables and turned a tidy profit for him.
Though Spurgeon considered the gardens the "most beautiful in the world" he later declared, "After I heard that, I never again went near the gardens of Monte Carlo."
Paul told the Thessalonians to "abstain from every appearance of evil." (1 Thess. 5:22) That is the counsel of the ages. From Eden, to Gethsemane, to the "gardens" along our path, may we avail ourselves of the faith and courage which God provides to pass the test and grow in the grace of Christ.
The first home we bought provided me with enough of a backyard for a garden and the thought of fresh produce made the idea an appealing prospect. But, there were problems.
A garden meant the large mimosa tree which shaded the area would have to go, and unfortunately it was the home of our daughter’s imaginary friend, "Wilbur." Dealing with that trauma furthered my education a bit.
Our lives of fruitfulness do not occur in a vacuum. How we develop affects others and we do well to consider how our the exercise of our liberty may encroach on theirs.
Another thing I have learned is that you never know how much to plant. Common sense tells you to plant more of what you want, but gardens seem to challenge common sense. The survival rate of what you like best always seems to be lower than that of the things you like less. Maybe that’s God’s way of showing us what we really need and I am sure He does that in our spiritual gardens as well.
Squash seeds come packed with squash bugs. Really! Have you ever seen a squash bug anywhere but on a squash plant? They just show up when the plants are growing.
If you don’t want squash bugs in your faith, just don’t let it grow. Keep it sealed up and you’ll never have to deal with the problems that a living, growing faith can generate. You’ll never enjoy what it produces either.
Unless you are feeding an army, you don’t need a forty foot long row of chicken wire six feet high to raise cucumbers! Ask Sharon, the pickling queen! Some things seem like good ideas and they may even work well, but you can have too much of a good thing.
Christ in a life brings balance and a proper perspective to our existence. In ignorance, we often fail to see the bigger picture. Following His plan is best.
Watch out for the "bigger barn" mentality or your garden may take on proportions that you can’t manage. Christ brings direction and order into our lives. It is better to be productive in a small field than to overreach your present capabilities (for those who know me, I believe I am finally making some progress here).
The lessons learned in gardens are many. I could share more and you could add yours as well. Some are harder to learn than others, but praise God we are learning!
We are ever returning to the garden for teaching and testing. May the opportunity be one that we view with great anticipation and hope. That view is only possible as we look to God as our Sustainer.
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed...."
2 Corinthians 2:8
Celebrate our risen and reigning Lord!