When we think of the word Garden, we often think of:
A place of beauty;
A place of tranquility;
A place of safety;
A place—apart from the stresses of society.
Or:
A place where you receive delicious organic food. . . .
A garden is a piece of ground, or larger area set aside for the planting of trees, flowers, shrubs or vegetables. It can be a small garden near a person’s house, or large, as a park where one can go and stroll around and find peace and serenity.
In the Bible we read of two gardens where events happened that were quite significant in the plan of salvation, that made a serious impact in the universe.
The first one is, The Garden of Eden. This was a by far the more beautiful of the two. It came fresh from the Creator’s hand and there was not a taint of sin and decay. It was a place of idyllic beauty and safety—a place where man spoke face to face with his Maker. There was no evil. The devil was confined to the tree of knowledge as his only place of possible contact with Adam and Eve. The inhabitants were surrounded with love, peace and beauty. No one to torment or disturb them. “The Garden of Eden, the home of our first parents, was exceedingly beautiful. Graceful shrubs and delicate flowers greeted the eye at every turn. In the garden were trees of every variety, many of them laden with fragrant and delicious fruit. On their branches the birds caroled their songs of praise. Adam and Eve, in their untainted purity, delighted in the sights and sounds of Eden.” –Counsels on Health, p. 266
The second one, the Garden of Gethsemane, was not as idyllic as the Garden of Eden as it existed after 4000 years of sin and decay on this earth. Leaves dried and fell off trees, weeds grew among the plants. Plants and flowers died after a time. Although it may not have been as beautiful and perfect as Eden, it was a place where the greatest event occurred on this planet. When the Son of God prayed in this garden, He was surrounded by a world of evil and evil angels. A terrible battle, unseen to the human eye, took place. It is here that we see the greatest victory. We see that entire self-surrender, amidst great torment and uncertainty, was experienced.
In one garden, there was the greatest fall. In the other garden the greatest victory.
“The Garden of Eden, with its foul blot of disobedience, is to be carefully studied and compared with the Garden of Gethsemane, where the world’s Redeemer suffered superhuman agony when the sins of the whole world were rolled upon Him. Listen to the prayer of the only begotten Son of God, ‘O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.’ And the second time He prayed saying, ‘O My Father, if this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.’” –Christ Triumphant, p. 24
Heeding this counsel, let us study and compare the two gardens.
The apostle Paul contrasted the two main events that occurred in the two gardens by saying, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12 “Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of One the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 5:18
“Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden caused all to sin; but in the Garden of Gethsemane Christ drank the bitter cup of suffering and death, that whosoever believes in Him may not perish, but have everlasting life.” –The Signs of the Times, June 13, 1900
GARDEN OF EDEN
“When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, they were innocent and sinless, in perfect harmony with God. Enmity had no natural existence in their hearts. But when they transgressed, their nature was no longer sinless. They became evil, for they had placed themselves on the side of the fallen foe, doing the very things that God specified they should not do.” –Christ Triumphant, p. 28
“The Garden of Eden was created by God. He made it a beautiful and holy place. But Satan found entrance to the Garden, leaving his slimy trail of sin and disobedience.” –The Review and Herald, March 20, 1958
We are all familiar with the story of the first sin, the eating of the forbidden fruit by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. There is, however, a lot more to the event than just the simple eating of the fruit by Eve and giving some to her husband, Adam, to eat.
“The Garden of Eden with its disobedience and the Garden of Gethsemane with its obedience are presented before us. What a costly work was that in Eden! How much was involved in the fatal eating of the forbidden tree! But many are following in the very same footprints, in disobedience, in breaking away from the law of God. When men selfishly enter a course of disobedience to God they go on imperceptibly. They do not calculate what the sure result will be when they enter the path of temptation, and make but feeble efforts to resist, and some make none at all. But when the scroll is unrolled, and God looks over it, He will find that He has been denied in that place, dishonored in another place; and as the roll is opened more and more, the results of un-Christlike actions are revealed.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1103
Divide and Conquer: Eve’s first mistake was to leave the side of Adam. Although this was not yet sin, it led up to the events that caused her to be on her own and then sin. “The angels had cautioned Eve to beware of separating herself from her husband while occupied in their daily labor in the garden; with him she would be in less danger from temptation than if she were alone. But absorbed in her pleasing task, she unconsciously wandered from his side.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 53–54
Satan knows that in unity there is strength. “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–10, 12
The enemy has always sought to bring divisions amongst God’s people. As we study the history of the Christian church up to the present day, there are many times when Satan has succeeded in causing divisions in the church for one reason or another.
“‘Press together; press together,’ are the words of our divine Instructor. Unity is strength; disunion is weakness and defeat.” –Counsels on Health, p. 517. “In unity there is a life, a power, that can be obtained in no other way.” –Our Father Cares, p. 36
“The closer our union with Christ, the closer will be our union with one another. Variance and disaffection, selfishness and conceit, are striving for supremacy. These are the fruits of a divided heart, open to the suggestions of the enemy of souls. Satan exults when he can sow seeds of dissension.” –Our Father Cares, p. 36
Self Righteousness: “On perceiving that she was alone, she felt an apprehension of danger, but dismissed her fears, deciding that she had sufficient wisdom and strength to discern evil and to withstand it.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 54. Eve thought she was just fine on her own. Her own wisdom was sufficient. Thus she leaned on her own strength in her discussion with the deceiver. Many have fallen, leaning on their own wisdom. They do not regard the inspired wisdom of the church leaders and feel themselves all wise and all righteous; not needing the counsel or encouragement of brethren.
Deceived: The end result of self-righteousness is being deceived. Eve was totally deceived by the enemy. She did not suspect that this beautiful creature was the agent of Satan. But he led her to distrust God and this should have been a warning signal to her. Satan’s temptations are becoming more deceptive as we near the close of time. We need to be in constant connection with the Lord or we will be deceived. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” Matthew 24:24
“Satan’s angels are wise to do evil, and they will create that which some will claim to be advanced light, and will proclaim it as new and wonderful; yet while in some respects the message may be truth, it will be mingled with human inventions, and will teach for doctrine the commandments of men. If there was ever a time when we should watch and pray in real earnest, it is now. Many apparently good things will need to be carefully considered with much prayer, for they are specious devices of the enemy to lead souls in a path which lies so close to the path of truth that it will be scarcely distinguishable from it. But the eye of faith may discern that it is diverging, though almost imperceptibly, from the right path. At first it may be thought positively right, but after a
while it is seen to be widely divergent from the way which leads to holiness and heaven.” –Evangelism, p. 590
Eve, “felt no evidence of God’s displeasure, but on the contrary realized a delicious, exhilarating influence, thrilling every faculty with new life, such, she imagined, as inspired the heavenly messengers.” –Patriarch and Prophets, p. 56. Many have left the people of God, gone their own way, and then felt as though they are more spiritual, on a higher spiritual plane, with greater spiritual insight. The truth is, the devil is no longer buffeting them. They are deceived.
Lust of Eyes, and Lust of Flesh: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18
What you see often leads to desire. “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:28. We cannot walk around with blinders on our eyes. Sin is all around us. However, we need not linger when we behold evil. We can turn away. We can stay our minds on Jesus. Lingering leads to desire.
When Eve found herself by the tree of knowledge in her absentminded wanderings, she should have turned away. She, however, lingered with curiosity. Seeing the serpent speaking intrigued her. Beholding the lovely fruit and listening to the words of the tempter, created doubts in her mind. “Unmindful of the angels’ caution, she soon found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the forbidden tree. The fruit was very beautiful, and she questioned with herself why God had withheld it from them.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 54
Eve grew bolder. She “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.” Genesis 3:6
Pride of Life—self-importance “Eve had been perfectly happy by her husband’s side in her Eden home; but, like restless modern Eves, she was flattered with the hope of entering a higher sphere than that which God had assigned her. In attempting to rise above her original position, she fell far below it. A similar result will be reached by all who are unwilling to take up cheerfully their life duties in accordance with God’s plan. In their efforts to reach positions for which He has not fitted them, many are leaving vacant the place where they might be a blessing. In their desire for a higher sphere, many have sacrificed true womanly dignity and nobility of character, and have left undone the very work that Heaven appointed them.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 59
“The Devil made me do it!” Did he? Can he force you? “When the woman was asked, ‘What is this that thou hast done?’ she answered, ‘The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.’ ‘Why didst Thou create the serpent? Why didst Thou suffer him to enter Eden?’—these were the questions implied in her excuse for her sin.” –Ibid, p. 58
Who do you blame when you sin? “It is Satan’s act to tempt you, but your own act to yield. It is not in the power of all the host of Satan to force the tempted to transgress. There is no excuse for sin.” –Maranatha, p. 82
ADAM’S SIN: Many focus on Eve’s sin, but Adam was not guiltless.
Love family/friends more than the Lord: There are many Christians who do not want to offend non-religious family members so they make compromises in their presence by the foods they eat, the language being used, the activities participated in, the TV shows watched, etc.
“Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God, disregarded the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love. There was a terrible struggle in his mind. He mourned that he had permitted Eve to wander from his side. But now the deed was done; he must be separated from her whose society had been his joy. How could he have it thus? Adam had enjoyed the companionship of God and of holy angels. He had looked upon the glory of the Creator. He understood the high destiny opened to the human race should they remain faithful to God. Yet all these blessings were lost sight of in the fear of losing that one gift which in his eyes outvalued every other. Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator—all were overborne by love to Eve. She was a part of himself, and he could not endure the thought of separation.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 56
Act spontaneously: “Adam did not stop to calculate the result of his disobedience.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, p. 1103. He did not consider the consequences. “Adam yielded to temptation, and we have sin and its consequences laid distinctly before us. Reasoning from cause to effect, we see it is not the greatness of the act of disobedience which constitutes sin, but the fact of variance from God’s expressed will in the least particular, for this is a virtual denial of God, a rebellion against the laws of his government. . . . whenever man chooses his own way, there is controversy between the man and God.” –The Signs of the Times, April 10, 1893
Have you ever done, or said, or written something on the spur of the moment, not thinking, and later regretted what you did? We must consider our actions. Think before we act, speak or spend. Every moment spent we will give to God an account. Every penny spent we will give to God an account. Every word spoken or written we will give an account to God.
In reality, your spontaneity should be Christ-centred. When there is a call to help in the church, whether it be missionary work, visiting the sick and suffering, or church work, you are automatic in volunteering to help—without giving it a second thought. Consider your ways. Reflect at the end of the day: How much time and money did you spend for yourself? How much time for the Lord today?
GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE
The climax of Jesus’ earthly ministry occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was here that the sorest conflict raged in His mind. It was here that the cup of human woe weighed in the balances. This event occurred in the nighttime—in the darkness. There were no birds singing, no beautiful trees and flowers to be enjoyed. Only a very solemn stillness. This is quite the opposite setting as we would think of when we think of the Garden of Eden.
But what a tremendous victory was gained here in that darkness. It is often in the darkness, when there are no other distractions, that the Lord speaks to us.
“It was here the mysterious cup trembled in the hands of the Son of God. Shall He wipe the bloody sweat from His agonized countenance and let the human race go? The wail, wretchedness, and ruin of a lost world rolls up its horrible picture before Him.” –Christ Triumphant, p. 24
Resist the devil, when all human inclination wants to listen to Him: “With the issues of the conflict before Him, Christ’s soul was filled with dread of separation from God. Satan told Him that if He became the surety for a sinful world, the separation would be eternal. He would be identified with Satan’s kingdom, and would nevermore be one with God.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 686
“In its hardest features Satan pressed the situation upon the Redeemer: The people who claim to be above all others in temporal and spiritual advantages have rejected You. They are seeking to destroy You, the foundation, the center and seal of the promises made to them as a peculiar people. One of Your own disciples, who has listened to Your instruction, and has been among the foremost in church activities, will betray You. One of Your most zealous followers will deny You. All will forsake You. Christ’s whole being abhorred the thought. That those whom He had undertaken to save, those whom He loved so much, should unite in the plots of Satan, this pierced His soul. The conflict was terrible. Its measure was the guilt of His nation, of His accusers and betrayer, the guilt of a world lying in wickedness. The sins of men weighed heavily upon Christ, and the sense of God’s wrath against sin was crushing out His life.” –Ibid, p. 687. Thankfully, Jesus did not listen to Satan’s temptations. He chose to obey His Father instead.
Perfect Obedience: Every cell in your body is crying for selfish desire, but your mind says no. “Behold Him contemplating the price to be paid for the human soul. In His agony He clings to the cold ground, as if to prevent Himself from being drawn farther from God. The chilling dew of night falls upon His prostrate form, but He heeds it not. From His pale lips comes the bitter cry, ‘O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me.’ Yet even now He adds, ‘Nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.’” –The Desire of Ages, p. 687
“’And being in an agony He prayed more earnestly: and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.’ ‘And there appeared an angel unto Him from heaven, strengthening Him.’ The conflict is ended; Jesus consents to honor His Father by doing His will and bearing His curse, the consequence of humanity’s transgression. He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Here was what was involved in Adam’s disobedience and what the obedience of the Son of God means to us.” –Christ Triumphant, p. 24
“The strength given to Christ in the hour of bodily suffering and mental anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, has been and will be given to those who suffer for His dear name’s sake. The same grace given to Jesus, the same comfort, the more than mortal steadfastness, will be given to every believing child of God, who is brought into perplexity and suffering, and threatened with imprisonment and death, by Satan’s agents. Never has a soul that trusts in Christ been left to perish. The rack, the stake, the many inventions of cruelty, may kill the body, but they can not touch the life that is hid with Christ in God.” –The Signs of the Times, June 3, 1897
Prayer and supplication: In Gethsemane, Jesus encouraged His disciples to watch and pray lest they fall when tempted. He then went apart and prayed in agony to His Father. His prayer life on earth prepared Him for the struggle in Gethsemane. Jesus, our example, sometimes spent all nights in prayer. Did He sleep all day the following day? Was it not often that the people sought Him out so that He could heal their sick ones and preach to them the words of life?
Often one can stay up
late for selfish entertainments, visiting friends, etc. They can even work nights, without complaints—necessitating the need to sleep the following day. But ask them to pray for the night, and they will be far too tired to do so.
I am sure that all are guilty of staying up late at nights when it was not necessary. I will not exclude myself from this guilt. I know how tired I felt the next day. On the other hand, I also have stayed up late, studying, praying and writing articles for the Lord, and have not been near as tired the next day as when I stayed up late for selfish reasons. Why? Because one is for self, and one is for the Lord—and the blessing of the Lord rests upon those who deny themselves for Him.
“What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God’s heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith?” –Steps to Christ, p. 94
Thinking of others rather than personal comfort: When Jesus suffered greatly in the Garden of Gethsemane, His Father sent an angel to comfort Him. It was the thought of the multitudes that would be saved by His sacrifice that brought Him comfort.
“Three times has He uttered that prayer. Three times has humanity shrunk from the last, crowning sacrifice. But now the history of the human race comes up before the world’s Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. He accepts His baptism of blood, that through Him perishing millions may gain everlasting life. He has left the courts of heaven, where all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression. And He will not turn from His mission. He will become the propitiation of a race that has willed to sin. His prayer now breathes only submission: ‘If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink it, Thy will be done.’” –The Desire of Ages, p. 690–693
Reflection from the life of Ellen G. White: “At times, when in great trial or pain, I think, What is the use of continuing to work as I do? But I am ashamed of myself as soon as such a thought as this passes through my mind. I see Jesus, my Redeemer, suffering in Gethsemane; I see trembling in His hand the cup that is to separate Him for a time, as it were, from His Father; I see Him suffering at the hands of cruel men; I see Him smitten in the face; and suffering every indignity, and then mockingly commanded to show by a sign that He is the Saviour. O, what if He had refused to drink the cup of bitter agony He endured! What if His prayer had been answered? But God knew best, and strengthened His only-begotten Son to endure the agony and the shame, and become a propitiation for the sins of a lost world.” –North Pacific Union Gleaner, March 23, 1910
“Adam’s sin consisted in doing the thing the Lord had forbidden him to do, and this opened the flood gates of woe on our world. We should carefully meditate upon the life of Christ, and desire to understand the reason why He came at all. We should search the Scriptures as Christ has enjoined upon us to do, that we may know those things that are testified of Him. By searching we may find the virtues of obedience in contrast with the sinfulness of disobedience. ‘As by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.’
“Christ redeemed Adam’s disgraceful failure and fall, and was conqueror, thus testifying to all the unfallen worlds and to fallen humanity that through the divine power granted to him of heaven man can keep the commandments of God. Jesus, the Son of God, humbled Himself for us, endured temptation for us, overcame in our behalf, to show us how we may overcome; by the closest ties He bound up His interest with humanity, and gave positive assurance that we shall not be tempted above that we are able; for with the temptation He will make a way of escape.” –The Signs of the Times, April 17, 1893
From these two gardens, we learn that we cannot put our faith in our environment. Even in the most perfect environment, man can fall. In the less than perfect environment, man can be faithful. Our faith needs to be in Christ Jesus, who overcame all sin, showing us, and giving us the ability to also overcome in any circumstance and any environment that we may find ourselves in. Amen.
Wendy Eaton