A WATERED GARDEN

The Scriptures tell us that when God created the Heaven, the Earth and the host of them including man; that there was no rain, but a mist went up from the earth and watered the face of the ground. God however would make special preparation for the man whom He formed from the dust of the earth. In addition to giving him dominion over all living things on earth, God planted a garden eastward in Eden and placed Adam in this garden. He also caused a river to flow out of Eden to water the garden. This garden had every tree that was pleasant to the sight and good for food along with the tree of Life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This is the Garden of the Lord a well WATERED GARDEN; a symbol of perfection, abundance and the goodness of God to the man He had created. In it Adam had un-restricted access to everything including the tree of life, to eat of its fruit and live forever; or to sin by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and then die. He chose the latter (Genesis 2 &3).

Even though man sinned, God’s Love for the man He created in His image and after His likeness remained. He never ceased to express His love and show His compassion for Adam and his descendants. This can always be seen in the many promises He has made to us, whom He is not ashamed to call His servants, sons, daughters, his beloved, his redeemed his betrothed and many other names of endearment. God wants us to know and understand the depth of His love for us. The following promise to us gives an assurance of His rich blessings in ways the believer should always remember. “The Lord shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones. You shall be like a WATERED GARDEN, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord and their soul shall be as a WATERED GARDEN; and they shall not sorrow any-more at all” (Isaiah 58:11 and Jeremiah 31:11-12). Promises He is obliged to keep.

You might have gone to the Botanical Garden at some point and took the opportunity to visit the Green House and find yourself in awe, struck by the vibrant beauty of the plants and flowers. Now imagine a garden that has everything to sustain life, a garden where there is no dry ground, the earth is moist and the trees are green, vibrant, strong and healthy. The flowers are in full bloom, filled with opulent nectar. There are sumptuous fruits to satisfy the hungry. There is luxuriant growth everywhere. The leaves provide covering from the elements. There is a melodious continuance in the midst of an abundance of peace and quiet in this place of Goodness; a well WATERED GARDEN. The Lord has promised that the believer shall be like this well WATERED GARDEN. For the Lord shall comfort you: he will comfort all your waste places; and he will make your wilderness like Eden, and your desert like THE GARDEN OF THE LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody (Isaiah 51:3). You will be the source from which flow fruitful words of life. The grieving will be comforted, the hungry will be fed, the weary will find rest, the homeless will find shelter, the sick will find a source of healing, the sorrowful will find joy and peace and the fearful will have courage. You will never be barren. You are a well WATERED GARDEN nourished and flourishing under the keeper’s hand. You will be like THE GARDEN OF THE LORD; watered, kept and preserved unto His heavenly kingdom.

You may not see yourself as been so blessed or you may not even know the Lord for this to make any sense to you. Maybe you are not one who believes in this God business and you see those church going, bible speaking and “Oh So Righteous” people as hypocrites and Idiots. It may just be that you are among the many who are still hoping for something better to come. Or it could be that you really don’t know what to think about all this Religious stuff. Well: the God who created you with a Heart that keeps on beating but never depend on you to start it up or regulate its operation; but on which beatings you depend to continue living; because He loves you so; has promised to so prosper you that you will be like a WATERED GARDEN flourishing under His care; if you only trust Him. Therefore be of good courage and be not dismayed, hope now in God, for His promise is true. The Lord has not forgotten you neither has He given up on you. Cozy up to Him and watch Him cozy up to you. His love is everlasting and faithful is our God who is mighty to save.

W. Bennett