You might cultivate a garden, landscaping, or a houseplant or two. Plants of all types surround human life, even in developed cities and desert wastelands. I am dazzled at God’s beautiful design for every kind of life.
When God created heaven and earth, He chose a garden setting to place His masterpiece: the first man and woman, hand-crafted from dust and filled with the breath of God. He caused the earth to sprout plants yielding seed and trees bearing fruit according to their varieties. He looked upon it, declared it good, and entrusted it to the care and enjoyment of man.
It was paradise.
“A mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground … And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food … A river flowed to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers … The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it” – From Genesis 2
Shortly after, sin plummeted creation into decay and cursed nature. Still, plants grew, flowers bloomed, and people enjoyed God’s beauty.
He gave them vineyards, fields, and pastures bursting with life. God withheld rain when His people forgot His provision and sent rain when they remembered.
God also sent His Son to live on earth, during which time Jesus frequented a garden to pray, sing hymns, and be with His followers and His Father.
He was crucified to bear the weight of sin and buried in a tomb nestled in a garden. Risen and ascended, He gave one final gift to His saints: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place” (Revelation 1:1), unveiling a future garden.
“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” – 22:1-2
Meanwhile, God continues cultivating souls.
“Hear then the parable of the sower: A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed … some seeds fell on good soil and produced grain … As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit.” – From Matthew 13
“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” – James 1:21
“So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” – 1 Corinthians 3:7
The merciful, faithful, masterful Gardener carries His people from garden to garden.
Abby
