| Of Gardens and Cities 6/8/06 George Poulo And the Lord God took the man, and put him Into the Garden of Eden to dress it and keep it. Gen2:15 One should not minimize the impact of Jesus the Christ in the destiny of man. The first man, Adam, is put in a garden. His role is to dress it and keep it. His focus is on the earth. He is to be "fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the sea, the fowl of the air, and every living thing that moves upon it." (Gen1:28) The thrust of man's purpose and direction was to woman and the earth. "The first man, Adam, was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit." (1Cor15:45) The first Adam was made a living soul. The soul is our intellect, will, and emotions. The soul is occupied with the natural. It seeks to understand and control the earth. The first Adam was not made with a predilection for God, but for Eve and creation. He is a gardener, a hands-on man, and a solitary figure. He was made for the garden. The last Adam, however, was made a quickening spirit. God is a Spirit and the last Adam is made a quickening spirit for God. He is made with a desire for God. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Heb11:16b) The first Adam is given a garden. The last Adam is given a city. A city represents government, ruler ship, and a kingdom and glory. It represents royalty and regality. It represents a society. Where there is aloneness in a garden, there is togetherness in a city. And there shall be no more curses: but the throne of God And the Lamb shall be in it: And his servants shall serve Him. And they shall see his face: and his name shall be In their foreheads. (Rev22:3, 4) Where the first Adam took care of the earth, the last Adam will serve God. God will be the fulcrum and the finality of their desire. Where the first Adam had his home on earth, the last Adam will live in the New Jerusalem proceeding from heaven, having the glory of God as his portion. God himself will be the light of this city and them that dwell in it. This city will be filled with streets of gold and built with precious stones and a river of life with trees for the healing of the nations will run through it. As a quickening spirit our blessedness will be in serving God and paying him homage. We will see the face of God and live. We will be equal to Jesus. Where the first Adam had as his occupation planting seeds by faith to produce a harvest, the last Adam will live in love and serve the living God for eternity. We will be priests and kings offering gifts and sacrifices to God for his people. We will worship God for all eternity in holiness and godly reverence. The difference between the first Adam and the last Adam is the difference between the natural and the spiritual, the difference between earth and a heaven, a garden and a city. It is only through the blood of Christ that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye to have access to God the father and a heavenly home. It is only through Christ do we change our focus from the earth, a garden, to a heavenly city. It is only through Christ will we enjoy God forever. The first Adam is given a garden; the last Adam is given the city with God the light of it. It is only by being born-again and receiving eternal life, the very spirit of God, that we will enjoy this blessedness. May we contemplate our eternal destiny here on earth and await the New Jerusalem and fix our eyes and minds on God: the first a garden; the last an eternal city. Amen |
 |