And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day. (Genesis 3v8)
At this hot time of year, it's so refreshing to spend an evening in a cool green garden. A garden is an ideal environment for life. God is the original landscape gardener. He carefully planned and planted the garden called Eden, as a home for the first family - Adam and Eve. And in the "cool of the day" God would come down and spend time with Adam and Eve, until they disobeyed God and lost the privilege of his presence. Sin separated (and still separates) God's creatures from their creator.
(You can read Genesis 3 for the full narrative.) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=gen%203;&version=50;
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, spent an evening in a garden too. His garden was called Gethsemane, filled with olive trees. There He submitted to His Father's will - knowing that He had to go to the cross and pay the awful penalty for sin.
(You can read Matthew 26 for the full narrative.) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%2026;&version=50;
The Lord Jesus Christ spent three days and three nights in a garden tomb, after His death on the cross. Then He was raised from the dead by the power of the Father.
(You can read John 20 for the full narrative.) http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=20&version=50;
God wants us to experience His garden-presence once again. And we can!
When we recognise our sins, and realise that He is the only one who can save us, we can have our sins forgiven, and enjoy peace with God.
And to such people, the Lord Jesus Himself promises they will be "with Me in paradise" - God's perfect garden in heaven.
This message was prepared by Jeremy Singer 17th July 2006
