Back To The Garden

I was made to be royal but I was torn from the garden.

Video: Crowder - Back To The Garden

I was born to be royal

I was made to be free

But I was torn from the garden

When that devil lied to me

I was formed from the soil 

I got dirt inside of me 

But I was born to be royal 

I was made for glory

Take me back to the garden 

Take me back and walk with me 

For Your presence I am longing 

Take me back God, take me back!

Take me down to the river 

Down to Eden's crystal streams 

Where every sin can be forgiven 

Holy Ghost come set me free

---

Gardens have a special place in history, in the beginning life began in a beautiful garden and that's where the first battle with sin took place. The first Adam failed in a garden but later the second Adam stepped into a garden that was marred by sin to prepare for the battle that would change the world.

When you see the awesome start to human history back in the Garden of Eden you can't keep yourself from longing to go back there. To experience a sinless existence is an awesome thought but to also be in God's presence for eternity is definitely beyond comprehension.

Eagerly Waiting

Romans 8:23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. 1 Corinthians 1:7 Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:5 But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. Philippians 3:20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for Him to return as our Savior. 2 Timothy 4:8 And now the prize awaits me--the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing. Titus 2:13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. Hebrews 9:28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.

I can't wait to get to the garden where there will not be any sin, crying, sadness or death. The river flowing through this garden will flow forever and the tree of life will produce everlasting fruit and best of all the glory of God will be fully revealed to us there!

The Garden

The first garden is a story of disobedience but Gethsemane is all about obedience.

John 18:1-6 After saying these things, Jesus crossed the Kidron Valley with His disciples and entered a grove of olive trees. 2 Judas, the betrayer, knew this place, because Jesus had often gone there with His disciples. 3 The leading priests and Pharisees had given Judas a contingent of Roman soldiers and Temple guards to accompany him. Now with blazing torches, lanterns, and weapons, they arrived at the olive grove.

4 Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to Him, so He stepped forward to meet them. "Who are you looking for?" He asked. 5 "Jesus the Nazarene," they replied. "I AM He," Jesus said. (Judas, who betrayed Him, was standing with them.) 6 As Jesus said "I AM He," they all drew back and fell to the ground!

---

It must have been getting towards midnight by the time Jesus and his disciples reached the Garden of Gethsemane. Thousands of Passover pilgrims were sound asleep, weary from their trip to Jerusalem, and unaware of the spiritual battle taking place.

The excitement and joy that always accompanied Passover was lost on the disciples this time around as they continue to process all of the things that have happened since supper last night. They still cannot believe that Jesus washed their feet like a servant should have done and they still don't have any idea why Judas is missing. It seems so ridiculous now that they were arguing about their rank in Jesus' kingdom. (Luke 22:24)

They probably felt some comfort when they realized that Jesus was heading to the garden where they had already spent many nights with him. Jesus didn't feel the same comfort, he knew what was about to take place, still he walks on. Stepping into the garden where the betrayer would show himself and start a chain of events that would lead to his death was an act of obedience.

Gardens have a special place in history, in the beginning the first battle with sin was in a beautiful garden where the first Adam failed and now in a garden that is scarred by sin the second Adam steps into the garden ready for the battle that would change the world.

Mark 14:34 He told them, "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with Me."

Jesus took on the physical suffering and also the agony of the weight of every sin. We cannot imagine the experience that Jesus had as the sinless one became sin for us and experienced the separation from God that we all experienced before we became God's child.

There is another beautiful garden experience that is on the way for the children of God! It will be more glorious than the first garden and we will never have to leave!

In this new garden there will not be any sin, crying, sadness or death. The river flowing through this garden will flow forever and the tree of life will produce everlasting fruit. The glory of God will be fully revealed to us there!

I cannot wait to get to that garden! I have been in the garden of disobedience (Eden) and I have been in the garden of betrayal (Gethsemane). I cannot wait to go to the better garden heaven and experience God's presence for eternity.