Eden-The Garden of Sin: Before sin entered the world, God's creation was good. We are told Adam walked with God. We don't know how long this relationship lasted before the fall but it must have been amazing. Imagine walking with God in His creation, naming animals and living in paradise.
Once man sinned, however, the relationship with God was broken. What a heartbreak it must have been for the LORD when He could no longer associate with His creation in this special way. From then on man was separated from God, but God already had a plan for redemption. Are you in a garden of sin? Are you struggling against it and can't break free? Ask God to free you from sin. John 8:36 says, “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
Gethsemane – The Garden of Suffering: Children experience separation anxiety when their parents drop them off at daycare. Parents go through a very difficult time when their kids go away to college. It’s the end of a season and tough to deal with. Our Heavenly Father and Jesus experienced a type of separation anxiety in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here we find our Lord Jesus agonizing.His suffering is so intense that He is sweating great drops of blood. He chose this place to be with His disciples. But why Gethsemane? You see Gethsemane means, "the olive press." This is where He came to prepare for the moment He would be crushed for our sins. He anguished over the fact that He would be separated from the Father soon, so He could complete the plan of redemption. Are You in a Garden of Suffering? Whether it’s sickness, financial, marital, loneliness, bitterness or some kind of suffering, you need to give it to God. Trust Him with all your heart to heal your pain. Come closer to Him through prayer. Ask Him for healing. Discover His great love for you in His word. He is faithful to come through for you.
Golgotha – The Garden of Victory: John 19:41 says, “Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.” It’s so fitting that our Lord Jesus would be laid to rest in a garden. He is our rest. Our victorious King has just conquered sin and Satan at the cross. He’s victorious over death by His resurrection. Then Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb, finds the stone rolled away with two angels standing by, and she proceeds to mistake the risen Christ for the gardener. Are You in a Garden of Victory? Do you know this victory in your life? To know Jesus and His word is to know victory. So let’s take that victory and serve others. Share the Good News of God’s salvation with the people God puts in your daily life.
Paradise – The Garden of Eternal Life: Now we come full circle from the garden of creation and sin, to the garden of suffering, to the garden of victory, and finally to the eternal garden.
Revelation 2:7 says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.”’
The word “paradise” also means the garden of delight. Are You Walking as a Citizen of Heaven?
Do you live life knowing your destination is Heaven?
Philippians 3:20 says, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” The best part of heaven is that we will be with Jesus forever. Walking in the four gardens is a picture of our walk through this life. We go from being born into sin, to being redeemed by Christ, to walking in victory, and finally walking in heaven with Jesus.
It is comforting to know we have a garden of delight awaiting us who believe on Him
