Choose Your Garden

The Bible mentions several gardens. There’s the Garden of Eden, created perfect, filled with good things albeit not without temptations. Even though man sinned and was booted out and the garden remains unoccupied, the world still compares a place with ideal conditions to the Garden of Eden. I’ve been to some of those places, e.g. Hawaii, the Caribbean to name two. Then there’s the Garden of Gethsemane where we see deception, treachery, betrayal, failed trials (“Could you not keep watch for one hour?” Mark 14:37), but also God’s master plan at work. This was the beginning of the end for Christ on earth.

 In early November,

I posted a blog entitled “How Does Your Garden Grow?”. In it we looked at your garden of redeemed souls whom you have led to Christ. We recognized that God does not hold us accountable for the success of our witnessing, just our faithfulness. He is the true gardener; we’re just planters and waterers. Today, I’d like to look at gardens as places of opportunity.

If given a choice, I’m pretty sure most of us would choose Eden over Gethsemane. But would that be the best choice? Ask yourself, “What does our Eden really offer?” To be sure, beautiful things, comfort, possibly a life of ease. And someday when we reach heaven, we’ll have all that and much more. But in this world, isn’t there a risk of complacency, of becoming lukewarm when our faith is not challenged, our passion for the lost is not stirred, and our vision of “the great commission” dims?

If God didn’t intend

for us to be involved in the soul-harvest, once we believed in Jesus, He’d take us home. Then who would plant and water? Yesterday I read in Proverbs, “He who is wise wins souls.” (Prov. 11:30). Don’t we all want to be considered wise? There’s the answer: win souls.

When we choose Gethsemane over Eden, we can expect the same things Jesus met with, even from his closest companions. We should expect that because Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). That’s not an empty pep talk from the coach. We have been given the full armor of God to wear into the battle: truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:13-17). If we’re comfortable in our “Eden,” complacent in our life of ease, then getting dressed for battle probably isn’t high on our priority list.

I was a Drill Sergeant in the Army during Vietnam. When a trainee didn’t jump to obey an order, there was always some form of discipline. Brothers and sisters, we are in God’s army and He has given us orders (“Go into all the world…”). Is He less worthy of our undivided obedience than a lowly Army Sergeant? “…do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing,” (Pet. 4:12). And don’t be surprised if some of it isn’t for discipline purposes.

In our Gethsemane,

we will have trials. But rejoice. We’re not going alone and without weapons (“Our weapons are divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” 2 Cor. 10:4). So man up. Get dressed for battle. And move out.

Browse around our site. There is much encouragement and hope presented here. If you’re new in your walk with Jesus, make sure you’re attending and involved in a Bible-believing church and reading your Bible every day. If this is all new to you and you’d like to know more, visit our “Steps to Salvation” page on this site. Hope to see you on the battlefield.