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A Garden Called Eden

 The story of the Bible begins and ends in a garden called Eden. Eden was supposed to be ...

“Adam and Eve’s perfect world. Not just fruit and fig leaves, but an entire race of people stretching their cognitive and creative powers to the limit to build a society of balance and justice and joy. Here the sons of Adam and the daughters of Eve would learn life at the feet of the Father, build their city in the shadow of the Almighty, create and design and expand within the protective confines of his kingdom. The blessing of this gift? A civilization without greed, malice or envy; progress without pollution, expansion without extinction. Can you imagine it? A world in which Adam and Eve’s ever-expanding family would be provided the guidance they needed to explore and develop their world such that the success of the strong did not involve the deprivation of the weak. Here government would be wise and just and kind, resources plentiful, war unnecessary, achievement unlimited and beauty and balance everywhere. This was God’s perfect plan: the people of God in the place of God dwelling in the presence of God. Yet, as with all covenants, God’s perfect plan was dependent on the choice of the vassal. Humanity must willingly submit to the plan of God. The steward must choose this world; for in God’s perfect plan, the steward had been given the authority to reject it."

—Sandra L. Richter, The Epic of Eden 

In the garden, humanity had everything we could ever ask for, but it wasn’t enough. We were created by God to be His partners, but instead, we wanted to be our own masters. And so, we rejected God’s rule. Union with God was fractured, our identity was corrupted, and Eden was lost. 

But that’s not the end of the story. God’s desire is to dwell with us once again in Eden. Only this new Eden isn’t just a garden. This Eden is a city. A city where God and humanity will once again be reunited. Where heaven and earth are one. 

Through the resurrection of Jesus, we were given a preview of this future Eden. Because on a Sunday morning 2,000 years ago, Jesus walked out of an empty tomb into a garden. To the Apostle John, the message was loud and clear. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, the Way to this future Eden had been paved. The Way was paved by our crucified and risen Messiah, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. 

And our role as the Church is to be an outpost of heaven here on Earth. A place where things are the way they’re supposed to be. A place where the last will be first, the least will be most, and the outcasts are welcomed home.