It took me a day or two to digest this last chapter. I went back and forth between that and the corresponding chapter in Ezekiel. And on the banks of the river, on both its sides, there shall grow all kinds of trees for food; their leaf shall not fade nor shall their fruit fail (to meet the demand). Each tree shall bring forth new fruit every month (these supernatural qualities being) because their waters came from out of the sanctuary. And their fruit shall be for food and their leaves for healing. Ezekiel 47 vs. 12.
After I finished Revelation, and was ready to move on, I waffled between Psalms and Isaiah. I settled on Isaiah, and started reading. I was about 29 verses in when I stopped. Something arrested me. Probably because I had just read Revelation 22, and the comparison here was stunning. For you will be ashamed (of the folly and degradation) of the oak or terebinth trees in which you found (idolatrous) pleasure; and you will blush with shame for the (idolatrous) worship which you practice in the passion inflaming gardens which you have chosen. For you shall be like an oak or Terebinth whose leaf withers, and like a garden that has no water. And the strong shall become like tow( that is, easily ignitable) and become tinder, and his work like a spark, and they shall both burn together, and with none to quench them.
The gardens which you have chosen. Hmmm. All kinds of thoughts began streaming though my mind. You can choose your own garden? Something clicked, as I answered my own question YES. I called on Google to tell me a little bit more about gardens in Biblical times. I started taking notes, because what I found was amazing.
Note: I never published this, just put it on the back burner, and have rediscovered this post over SEVEN years later! I no longer remember what I found on Google about gardens, and I have no idea what I did with the notes, so bear with me, as I finish this post, sans discoveries about gardens in Biblical times.
I have known for a long time that our God is a God of reversals. He always takes what was meant for evil and turns it to good, if we allow Him. The Bible is full, chock full, of examples of God turning bad situations into glorious triumphs. Abraham, who had no heirs, to the Father of Many Nations. Joseph, sold into slavery, becomes the 2nd in command over the entire nation of Egypt, and saved his country from famine. Esther, who stepped up and saved her people on the brink of disaster. There are way too many to list here (and don't let me forget to mention the many times God has reversed disastrous situations in my own life), but of course the biggest reversal, is from death to life, Jesus who knew no sin took on death for us sinners, that we might be redeemed and be elevated to Sons of God, brothers to Jesus. That right there is the crux of the whole story, and I found myself there, as I read Isaiah 29.
Because it took me straight back to Eden. To that first garden. Adam, placed in a literal Paradise could have had it all, but he, as those sinners and rebels in Isaiah 1, chose something else. He chose to disobey. He chose something besides what God had given. God forced him out, because he had made a choice for death. He chose a different garden, very different than the garden God had planned for him. From now on his crop would be thorns and thistles. He would toil. Things would be difficult. He would sweat to eat.
WE can choose our own gardens as well. WE can decide if we are going to walk in a garden of sin and rebellion, or a garden of delight. WE get to make that choice. In Adam's garden of rebellion there is pain, there is trouble, there is sorrow. In Adam's garden the leaves die, and there is lack of water. In Adam's garden the curse rules. (Genesis 3 vs 17, 18, 19. Isaiah 1 vs 29). In Adam's garden everything turns to dust. Nothing prospers. Everything dies.
In God's garden, he makes the wilderness like Eden and her desert like the Garden of the Lord. he brings joy and gladness, with thanksgiving and the voice of song and instrument of praise. (Isaiah 51 vs 3).
In God's garden the Lord guides continually and satisfies in drought and dry places. He promises we will be like a well watered garden and like a spring whose waters don't fail.
In God's garden there is fruit that renews every month watered by the river that flows from the Throne of God. The leaves never wither, and they heal the nations.
In Adam's garden the end is consumption by fire. Isaiah 1 vs 28 says But the crushing and destruction of rebels and sinners shall be together, and they who forsake the Lord shall be consumed...
...And here is where my original post of seven years ago ends. I wish I had continued. I wish I could get into my brain and know what the wonderful ending was going to be, especially since coincidentally (or not) I am going through the book of Revelation again. I did have a couple of thoughts, though, and the first one was this.
It's a drought of Living Water that sets Adam's garden ablaze and
the Living Water is Jesus.
I had a call from my sister while I was writing this. In casual conversation she said I hope I have a good year. This being New Year's Day, I think it's what everybody is hoping. Everything is still fresh and the year is yet unspoiled with trouble. As she was talking my eyes skimmed over the words in this post and I found myself kind of in that surreal place where the time meets place and words flow like they were made for that moment. It depends on the garden you choose...I said. Not saying there won't be trouble, we all have trouble, but walking in God's garden means he continually guides and satisfies in dry places...The words I had written down years ago, found only an hour ago, rising up to meet the need of this very moment. I have been blessed enough to have that happen a number of times in my life. One comes to mind. When Ally was about ten years old she had a very good friend who moved away. One sunny morning in April he got hit by a car on the way to school. His outcome was precarious. They rushed him to the hospital but it was bad, very bad. I spent the whole day praying for him, and asking God to give me the words to tell Ally what happened, and what to say if he died. I knew I only had til three PM before she came home to figure out what to say to her.
I remember her walking in the room. I hadn't heard anything about his status. I said a quick prayer. Then I said Alyssa...Austin...and then my screen flashed and his update came at that very second. He would live! Austin...I repeated...has been in an accident but he is going to be OK! I was NEVER so thankful for the Lord's timing as on that day.
Well now this blog has gone from talking about choosing gardens to God's infinite timing. I could go on for ages about that, but I have already relayed some of that in another post and won't digress further here from the original subject. The only thing left to say is that God wants us to choose the good garden. He gives us a choice, but then tells us what to choose. Not because he is a distant controlling entity, but because He is a loving father.
I set before you this day life and death, he says in Deuteronomy 30 verse 19, and then makes it clear which one He wants you to choose. CHOOSE LIFE! He says.
You won't be sorry. Good things await.
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