December 29th
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 31Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. 1 Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. Genesis 1:1,31-2:1 NKJV
8The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 2:8-9 NKJV
8And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Genesis 3:8 NKJV
Over the years, I’ve enjoyed taking walks or going jogging early in the morning. A few of the things that have soothed me during these times have been the sounds of the crickets and meadow bugs, and the coolness of the air. The peace and presence of God I’ve sensed during such times has been wonderful. It’s the kind of experience that you just want to soak up as much as you can while it lasts. Now I know that we’re not supposed to base our faith on feelings, but it sure is nice to feel connected with God at least every now and then!
Those morning walks and jogs have often has caused me to imagine what it was like in Eden. Adam and Eve lived in that beautiful garden, which was filled with all the creatures and plants that God created in their uncorrupted states. He also filled it with every kind of tree that was both pleasing to the eye and good for food. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of that time was the tangible presence of God. God apparently took walks in the garden and may have included Adam and Eve in those strolls. We know he did this in bodily form, as he made noise as he walked through the garden.
Once Adam and Eve broke fellowship with God, everything changed. He had given them so many beautiful and delicious trees to eat of, but they chose to eat from the one he had forbidden them to eat from. Because they had sinned, God expelled Adam and Eve from the garden and cursed them and the rest of creation. He was greatly grieved over the broken fellowship with Man. We know this because he later sent his own Son, Jesus, to die as the sacrifice that would restore Man’s fellowship with him.
Accepting Jesus’ sacrifice for us brings us peace with God and the opportunity to walk with him just as Adam and Eve may have walked with him in the early days of creation. We have the renewed opportunity to experience the joy, peace and awe of fellowshipping with the creator of the universe!
I know from my own life that the concerns of the world, demands of our families and fast-paced schedules often rob us of having special times with the Lord each day. I’ve found that it takes commitment and priority to make a quiet time happen. Once I got in the habit of a daily quiet time, I’ve grown dependent on starting my day with the Lord. I’ve noticed that I have much more peace throughout the day and I’m best equipped to handle the demands of life, work and ministry. Additionally, I’m much more aware of his presence and I “feel” better connected with him and his power for facing the challenges that come my way.
If you are not meeting with the Lord daily, I encourage you to begin doing so for a time of Bible study, worship and prayer. He’s there in that secret place, a type of Eden if you will, waiting for you each day. Will you show up to meet with him? This could be your “cool of the day” when you can walk with God and talk with him. He longs to meet with you, just as he did with Adam and Eve. He longs for you to open up to him with your concerns, anxieties, needs and trust. When you open the door of your heart up to him with these things, he will in turn send the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. It will guard you and help you through the day.
Questions for further thought:
Why did God make people? (Romans 8:15-17, Genesis 1:26-28, Revelation 21:1-7, Revelation 22:1-5)
Why is prayer so important for us? (John 16:24, Matthew 7:7-8, Matthew 18:18-20)
How often did Jesus spend time with God? (Luke 5:16)
What do we have residing in us that guarantees we are with God at all times? (Romans 8:11-13, 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:13)
Prayer:
“Lord God, thank you for creating me and sending Jesus to die for my sins. Thank you for the new life I have through Jesus. Thank you that I can now fellowship with you just as Adam and Eve did in Eden. Lord I desire to have a close relationship with you. I want to walk with you each day and be in your presence. Please help me establish a special time and place to meet with you each day and to grow in my relationship with you. Thank you, Father, for the privilege of knowing you. I praise you now and forever, Amen.”