What comes to mind when you hear that name, Eden...?
Is it the blissful essence of a garden paradise filled with beautiful landscapes and horizons with nature, creation, man and beast roaming freely and wildly without a care of worries but perfect peace?
Is it it the start of man and family, set out on a journey of exploration through a whole new world all to themselves, the care takers of an inheritance from a Heavenly Father...
Or is it the twist of events that saw something perfect and blameless robbed of its innocence and beauty...
Yes all these things come to mind when we think of Eden a name symbolic and home of the beginning of a covenant that God made with man and established it with the institution of the family...
Though the story of Eden, its end and its consequences stand out as a stark reminder of betrayal, unfaithfulness and separation. We must not forget Eden is also a reminder of a faithful promise of restoration, healing love and forgiveness right there at the beginning that appeared to be the end of a chapter in what we knew to be a garden in paradise.
Yes right there at the beginning of it all is a golden nugget of the faithfulness, compassion, kindness and mercy of a loving Father who already set out a plan to restore, heal and reconcile that which was broken and He does the same today unchanging, faithful and good.
Right there in the beginning was a promise and plan to defeat those little serpents of life that come to sever us from the paradise of Gods goodness, care and love for us, our families and all it's values.
"And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”(1)
How important, how rich is the institution of the family.
Generations of family ties throughout the centuries, ancient landmarks of stability, protection, security and love.
Only just like Eden, many have also experienced the bereavement of those simple ideals and values that truly benefit and enrich our society.
Serpents of Discord, Selfishness, Pride and all sorts of things that take away the purity and goodness of the purpose of that institution. An institution of family values to raise up and install into generation upon generation this security, stability, protection and love that was first established in that garden.
But the promise of the Seed has been fulfilled, One who came to the earth from above to bring us back to a new Eden, an everlasting eden. One who is able to take away the power of the serpents of life by His sacrifice, giving His life for His friend, for His neighbours, even those who betrayed and hated Him...
Paving for us the path to return to Eden, not the physical Eden of an earthly paradise but an Eden within of love, peace and an assurance of bringing this reality into our lives and families starting from within us here on what we call now call earth.
“The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”(2)
Yes this Kingdom of God, this new and spiritual kingdom can become inside of us, it is the return to Eden, a paradise in our hearts, a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that cannot be taken away from us, a peace that we can never find in this world, that only He can give as He shows us the way by overcoming the cross, forgiveness, love and mercy. So that we too can follow in His footsteps and overcome our daily crosses that we must bear to enter His rest.
When we overcome those little serpents of life that try to steal our peace we remain in Eden, the paradise of our souls and all its benefits so that we can share that peace with our families and others. Reestablishing this peace in our homes, in our little Eden, our loved ones.
Not only our families but our communities, neighbours, colleagues and workers. Simply a thriving world starting with each and every one of us from within.
What, whom or where is your little Eden? Share in the comments below ⬇️
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REFERENCES
(1) Gensis 3:15 NKJV
(2) Luke 17:20-21 NKJV
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