Trusting God’s Plan - Gardens: Evergreen Faith in a Trustworthy God

“Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month… No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him.” (Revelation 22:1-3, NLT)

No Bible-garden foolishness can keep us from our future resurrection. Because as sure as Jesus lived, died, and rose again, he is coming back to make all things new, including a garden. No matter what we encounter in the gardens of life, or what distrust and brokenness threads through our lives, our future is rooted in trust after doubt and life after death.

The garden stories of the Bible create all sorts of tension in us: between good and evil, life and death, exile and relationship. But the final garden in the Bible, where King Jesus comes back to walk among the trees with us forever, resolves every tension. God’s original longing—for us to live in trust and relationship with him in the Garden—will be fulfilled. Until then, we are waiting in hope. And yes, we’re human—our hopeful waiting is not without trials or doubts. But we’ve got a vision of our future, thanks to John’s final letter: the book of Revelation.

John writes of the final Garden City, which is the new, well, just about everything: Eden, Temple, Jerusalem, creation, paradise, and, of course, garden. All God’s redemptive activity throughout history finds its culmination in the last two chapters of the Bible, where God comes home to dwell with his people in a new paradise. The echoes of Eden are so loud in the text that you can barely hear John’s vision of the future over Moses and the prophets’ writings.

Here’s what we know for sure: However and whenever God chooses to make all things new, there will not be cherubim blocking us from his garden presence. There will be no serpents tempting us to rebel against God, no broken relationships, no tears over betrayal, and no death.

The unconditionally loving God of Eden is back. He has been calling out for his people in every garden, and he is here to stay forever. Nothing and no one can mess with this garden.

Things will change eventually. The dreams lost or delayed will be realized eventually. And help is on its way. God is not just coming back to set things right; he is also coming to make all things new—and then he’s going to invite you and me to join him in the newness. Praise God.

Read: Revelation 21–22

Prayer:

Dear God, your unconditional, relentless love brings life and growth where I too easily fear none can be found. Thank you that, some day, the Garden City will be my home with you forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.