In the Garden

In the beginning, when God created Adam and Eve, we are told in Genesis 1:26-27 that He created them to rule over all the things that He had created. But in order for that to function properly, Adam and Eve needed to be under authority. Because these first humans were a reflection of God himself, their personal authority was not absolute, but it was dependent upon the source of their authority - God. For them to be God’s rulers they needed to be submitted to His rule. They needed to do God’s will perfectly, fully trusting His purposes, His motivations, and His love without question.

What we see here is the Kingdom of God. God is the total supreme ruler and these two [Adam and Eve] just obeyed everything He told them, and without any disobedience; they lived in the eternal life of God. So all of creation was in right order and the Kingdom of God covered all of creation. While this perfect order of the Kingdom continued, all of creation was protected from the Evil One and he had no point of access anywhere. As a result, there was no sin, no sickness, no disease, no corruption, and no evil. There was nothing that offended God in His earthly creation. It was all under the Kingdom of God. So if you ask, “I wonder what the Kingdom of God will be like when it fully comes?”Just go back to the beginning and see!

Reflection Questions:

• What would it feel like to truly obey God in everything without the self-inflicted wrestle or hesitation?
• Are there specific areas in your life that He’s asking you to surrender and trust Him in?