(Genesis, chapter two)
I went outside a few hours ago. With the heat the way it�s been for the past few weeks, that�s not something I�ve been doing a lot of! I had to go to my next door neighbor�s house and pay him for mowing the lawn. He has been a great help to me by doing this chore for the past several years.
This time I went through the back yard. I don�t always do that. I must not do it very often because I hadn�t noticed that he had quite a garden going. The corn was as tall as I am. It was an impressive sight, all of his horticultural work on display.
I have heard that gardening is one of the most soothing pastimes in which a person can take part. There is just something about working with the earth, tending to the plants, watching the slow progress of one�s work, and the pride that comes from a job well completed which gives a man a source of pride and peace.
It has been this way since mankind was first formed of the dust of the ground. Our first home, as the race of men, was in a garden. Therein was our first task, the grooming and keeping of that garden. It was only the trauma of sin which caused man to first forsake the tranquility of that garden.
Our text today, the entire second chapter of Genesis, has to do with the establishment of that garden by God and the placing of the first of our human ancestors within that Garden of Eden.
We start with the first seven verses and the serenity of the garden.
�Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.�
In the third verse we see that when God had finished His work that He rested on the seventh day. There are a couple of very important things to notice in this third verse: �And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.�
Notice that God made a distinction between the days. What was the difference between the seventh day and the prior six? This day was set aside as a sign that God had completed a work. The phrase �sanctify� means that a person, or anything, is set apart from the rest of the group for a special purpose.
The world likes to talk about an equality among individuals. This is a very good concept in the political and social realms. But, among humanity there is a certain group which has been sanctified, or set apart, for a special purpose. The Christian, one who has freely accepted the free gift of salvation, is a symbol to the world that God has completed His work in the matter of salvation. The Cross was a one time event which represents the completed work of salvation for humankind. No longer does man need to sacrifice, for a perfect Sacrifice has been offered in the Person of Jesus Christ.
The purpose of the Sabbath was to memorialize the mighty power of God in the creation of the cosmos. A memorial is a sign that points to something. A few miles down US Route 34 from where I live there is a sign post. It is an historical marker which points toward the first Swedish settlement in the area. This allows people to visit Bishop Hill, a small city which has become a living memorial to this early group of settlers in the central part of Illinois.
As Christians we are to be a sign post to the truth that Jesus Christ died in time so that we might live in eternity. The sign post above has one central function: It is designed to point travelers to the historical significance of the area. We have one central function as signs of the saving grace of Jesus: We are to fulfill the Great Commission to spread the gospel of eternal life to those who stand in the land of impending death.
It is also important to consider that the purpose of the Sabbath was to point back to a time when God had accomplished a great wonder.
Times may change. Culture may change; we�ve seen this in our own lifetimes. Great movements may flourish and fade. But, we need to constantly turn the hearts and minds of the lost to the fact that Jesus Christ did die, did resurrect from the dead, has offered us a salvation based on the fact of that death and resurrection, and is coming back for His Own.
The world needs to hear the message of salvation. The Christian needs to heed the message of the coming Savior so that we will see the need of the hour to spread the Gospel message.
Moses takes a sort of �flashback� in verses five through seven as he reviews the work which God had accomplished.
In verse five we see that the plants grew in the ground.
The first thing my neighbor did when he began his garden was to plow the ground in some way. Whether he used a hoe, or a garden tiller, or a small tractor, I don�t know. I didn�t see him do it. So, why do I know that he made furrows in the ground, since I didn�t see him do so? Well, I can see the crops. Without the furrowing of the ground there would be no plants growing. A package of seeds can be stored on a shelf for years. Those seeds will not germinate until they are placed in the ground and watered. The earth �grounds� them while the water brings them life.
God did not save us to place us on a shelf. He has given us the grounding of His Word so that our lives can be centered and sustained by the good spiritual food therein. The water of the Spirit is spread upon our lives as we are grounded in that Word. Salvation is a gift. It is ours the moment we accept Jesus as Savior. But, we are to grow in that grace; we are not to remain in seed form. That is abnormal. That is beneath our status as Christian. Instead, we are to grow and produce more seed for the Kingdom.
Notice that there was a mist, rather than rain, which watered the earth in verse six.
Linda and I visited Niagara Falls several times. I was thinking about this today as the temperature soared near the century mark for yet another day. One of the great things about the Falls is the mist which rises from the falling water. No matter how hot the day, there is always a soothing, cooling presence when one gets near the Falls.
We speak about �Showers of Blessing.� That is a welcome concept, that God would spread showers of His blessing upon our lives. But, the reality of the situation is even better. God sends the mist of His blessing. This is a enveloping reality which sooths us from the trials of the day, cools our bodies from the ravages of the heat of this present world, and is there to be breathed in to become part of our very lives.
In verse seven we see that God created man from the dust of the ground. God then breathed into man�s nostrils the breath of life.
We can look at our bodies as mere �dirt� and consider our complete unworthiness to stand before the holiness which is God. But, God stooped down and breathed life into our soulless bodies. He gave the dignity of His presence, and personal contact, into our soiled lives. He stood us up with an energy which we could not have had without the touch of the Master�s Hand.
We are separated from the animals. We should begin to act like this is so! The great dignity which God imparted into our race, as humans, should inspire us to reach above the mundane and search out the spiritual. We are not a mere animal; we are a living soul!
This also says something about our purpose in this life. We must realize that the spiritual is what gives emphasis to the carnal. When we are exited about a task we are much more likely to begin work! But, in the same breath we must realize that our carnal nature drags down our spiritual nature when we fail to consider the things of God.
We are created with the capacity to live above our carnal weaknesses. We can soar above the clouds of the physical as we consider the Spirit of God which lives within the heart of the Christian.
We now consider the state of the man in verses eight through twenty.
�And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goes toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. And the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field; and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.�
God made a garden for the man to live within. That is a wonderful concept to consider. God intends for us to have the good things in life. These may not be material things. God, as the Creator, understands the true needs of man, the creature. God here provided good food, good water, and a pleasant environment.
Still, something seemed to be lacking.
Considering the food and water. God has given us the Words of His preserved Scripture to feed our souls upon. The water of the Spirit is given us that we might not faint in completing the tasks set before us. God also allows us the privilege of prayer with Him. That �something� that was lacking for Adam in the garden was companionship among his own kind.
God gives us that companionship among our own kind, as Christians, within the walls of the churches which Jesus established. To ignore this companionship is to snub the goodness of God.
God did not leave Adam to just lie around lazily. Even in the Garden God had tasks for Adam. God also gave to Adam a responsibility. Adam was not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.
This was a test of fellowship. God desires that we willingly acknowledge Him and His goodness. Salvation comes because the Spirit places conviction upon our hearts; yet salvation is an individual decision to respond to that conviction and follow Christ.
This was a test of faith. Would Adam accept that God was good? Or, would Adam decide that he might want to follow his own paths and instincts?
I could spend hours delving into that question. What are our plans, and projects, and pleasures? Are they in the things of God? Or, are they in the things of self? Simply put: Do we really love God?
This was also a test of fidelity. Would Adam be willing to follow the dictates of God? Would Adam accept God as the Final Authority; or would Adam see his own desires are more important to him than accepting the Words which God had given him?
Notice, in verses ten through fourteen, that the ground was good and beautiful. God could have supplied a barren wilderness with a �snack machine.� God could have given manna each morning on a windswept expanse of rock and sand. God could have placed Adam in a cave and had the ravens supply his nutritional needs.
God didn�t do any of this. God was interested in the supply of both physical needs and aesthetic needs. God does not have a limited interest in us. God is completely interested in our good. God is not a pet owner who ties the dog to a tree in the back yard and throws out a can of dog food once a day. God is a concerned Creator Who is interested in supplying every need we may have. His care over us is not centered on control. His care over us is centered in love.
It is that love which asks that we submit to His will and direction. He is the Creator and knows more about that which we need, and do not need, than we will ever understand.
He cares for us.
God�s intent, as shown in verse fifteen through seventeen, is that we have only good things from Him. This was His plan. This was His purpose. It was only through willful sin that Adam would leave the garden.
It is the same with us. God has offered us only good. Our sins too often prevent this from becoming a complete reality in our lives.
God is holy. He will not - ever! - honor sin!
As we look at verse eighteen through twenty, we see that God understood the need for man to have fellowship with his own kind. God allowed Adam to view all the animals. In these Adam was not able to find solace. God would perform another miracle so that Adam would have this personal fellowship with another like created being.
God makes that same provision for us. We may have pets, parties, and pleasures of this world, but what we really need is fellowship with others of like faith in the churches of Jesus Christ. We will never be content as Christians unless we unite in a local church. We will never be consecrated toward God unless we unite in a local church. We will never be chosen to do His will until we unite in a local church.
Finally, we look in verse twenty-one through twenty-five and see the sedative for the operation.
�And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof, And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from the man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.�
We see that God put Adam to sleep when He created the woman.
Often we do not realize when God has done something for us until much later. Looking back we are able to realize what a great miracle God has done in our lives. My wife loved the poem about footprints in the sand. In this poem a man views two sets of footprints in the sands of his life. But, when troubles came, the man only sees one set of footprints. He asks Jesus why he was deserted in his time of troubles. Jesus said that the man didn�t understand. Jesus explained that there was only one set of footprints in the time of trouble because that is when Jesus picked up the man and carried him.
We often see fail to see the hand of God in the events about us because we are in a spiritual slumber. When we are spiritually awake, and watching, we may witness the glories that God has displayed in this world of time.
Adam also realized that his wife, Eve, was part of him. Now, I don�t want to sound metaphysical here. But, the man and wife do form a unit. We fail to give proper glory to God when we fail to give proper respect to the spouse He has given us. We are each separately accountable unto God; but we are jointly involved in the work we do for Him.
This speaks not only of the sanctity of marriage, and of the vows we make before God as we enter into this union. This also speaks of the interest which God has in all parts of our lives. We need to realize this fact. This is an incentive for a holy life before Him.
Adam and Eve were in innocence. They didn�t know sin for they knew God. When God is fully in the life of a person, there is no room for sin. The closer we are able to stay to His blessed side, the further we will stay from sin. The more we stray from God, His preserved Word, and a consistent prayer life, the more likely we are to slide into sin and error.
Have you ever come to that place where God is real in your own life? Have you accepted Jesus as your Savior? Why not do that right now?