Beginnings: Paradise Regained
Genesis 3 Part 3
I wonder what sort of tale we’ve fallen into?
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings
This is Valentine’s Day so I want us to think about the greatest love story ever told. I asked Chris and Brandon to help me with this at dinner last week. I asked, “Can you think of a story that starts out with a great and promising relationship – but one of the persons goes wrong or is unfaithful so that the relationship is broken. But both still have a longing for the other. So, at one point, it may seem like these people will never come together but in the end, often because of sacrificial and heroic acts, the relationship is restored. In fact, it is better than it ever has been or could ever have been imagined. The ending is with everyone living happily ever after!”
Chris said without stopping for a moment, “Oh, it’s Jane Austen’s Persuasion.” Brandon said, “It’s any of those Jane-Austen type stories. They’re all like that!!”
Now, that same story of things starting well, then of brokenness and potential doom, times of searching and longing for things to be restored, and eventual triumph is found not just in romance stories, but in millions of stories, fairy tales, novels, and films. Why? Because it's real to life. And, when we look at the opening to the Bible – the book of beginnings called Genesis and the book of completion called the Revelation – we see that God has framed the Bible in terms of a story, a real story taking place in history. In fact, I’ve always appreciated the quip that says that all of history is really “His-story.” And, in this story the Bible describes, God never shields us from the hard parts – the personal failures and setbacks even among its heroes, the evil or the brokenness in life. But the great thing about the Bible is that there is always hope even in the darkest situation because of… well, because of who God is.
Well, Gen. 3 is probably the darkest chapter in the Bible’s history. We have seen that over the past two weeks. It tells how evil entered into paradise. After messages on how human beings are prone to temptation (all of us) and on the consequences of going our own ways rather than God’s, there may seem to be no hope at all for humanity. Look at how it ends in v. 24: After he drove them out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
It seems like eventual death and oblivion is all that is in store for people. But… But in spite of all it says about temptation, sin, and judgment, Genesis 3 is not an example of dark pessimism as so much of our 21st century writing is. It doesn't simply diagnose the pathetic condition of humanity and declare that the world is a hopeless and terminal case. It doesn't leave Adam and Eve in despair ‑‑ or us.
So today, I want us to look, in brief, at how those who were in paradise and then lost it – are to find paradise again. Let’s look at the story of the love relationship of God to people as told “in the garden.”
The Beginning: God’s story with us started in a garden -- Eden (Genesis 1-3)
Do you remember that the powerful God who spoke everything into being and made everything very good is described as a God who talks with people, walks with people and trusts people with the authority to further his rule and care in this world? And it all begins in the Garden of Eden. At the end of chapter 2, everything is “right” in creation. But, in chapter 3, the man and woman chose to put themselves into God’s place. Adam’s Choice:
*Adam became proud and put himself into God’s place.
*Adam rebelled and disobeyed the clear will of God.
*Adam grasped at the forbidden fruit of the tree and willingly sinned.
This experience of evil opened the people’s eyes to evil so that they hid from one another and from God – filled with shame.
Then, in 3:8, this powerful and holy God comes walking into the garden where Adam and Eve are hiding. On first reading, we should be asking ourselves, “What will he do with these people who have disobeyed him?” We learn some wonderful things about God that were not found in Genesis 1.
Lesson #1: God is a God Who Seeks
The first sign of hope is that, even after the great sins, God comes seeking after those He has made and loved. In v. 9, God comes into the garden and asks, “Where are you?” Now, let's try to get the heart of this. This isn't the sneer of the serpent putting down the impudent creatures (as Don Wood showed me after a service recently). God isn’t trying to shame the people he loves. Moreover, this isn’t the authoritarian demand of the policeman who has to bring in the hardened criminal. This is the agonized appeal of a father looking for a much-loved son or daughter. God has never waited for people to seek Him. If He did, He would wait forever ‑‑ so He comes looking for you and me too. Salvation is always God's initiative. God has already said "yes" to us if only we will turn away from sin, confess it to him, and trust Him.
Be sure of this: No matter where you are or what you are hiding, no matter what might cause you to feel ashamed or to not want to meet God, God is looking for you today‑‑just as He looked for Adam. The God whom we proclaim is a God who takes the initiative to seek those whom He loves. God is relentless in His desire to bring His children home to Him. And in that divine quest we find our only hope.
Lesson #2: God is a God Who Provides
Have you ever noticed how God in this episode made rapid provision for the people’s immediate need ‑‑ even though they had brought the problem upon themselves? The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them(Gen. 3:21).
There are two things that I want you to notice. First, God strips Adam and Eve of their pathetic human attempts to patch up their human mistakes and provides them of something better in its place. God intervenes in human affairs to shield us from the harmful affects of our own foolishness.
Second, notice that in His providing, God still keeps His word. Judgment does come. Separation from God and Eden and eventually, physical death itself, is experienced. But His provision simply shows that His judgment does not occur out of petty malice. "I'm bigger ‑‑ I'll show them." No, He loves the people. God is here making it bearable for human beings to live out of Eden ‑‑ even with the ongoing reality of sin and shame. “Jehovah-Jireh”: God is a God who provides.
Lesson #3: God is a God who is Merciful
God places limitations on the curses He pronounces. If you will look at v.14, you'll see that God cursed the serpent. And if you look at v.17, you'll see that God cursed the ground. But He did not curse the people who are made in his image.
Ever afterwards the crawling of the serpent and the prolific growth of the thorns and weeds have symbolized those curses that had come so close to those made in God’s image. But humanity was not cursed. Do you see that even the penalties that are given here are mingled with mercy?
Remember too that there is a postponement of the final curse of death and provision made for how human beings can live outside paradise.
And, in a strange way, even the severance from the tree of life was an act of mercy as well as of justice. When you think about it, to simply live forever in a fallen world and to continue to live in our own sinfulness would be no paradise.
But even more profoundly, ironically, the possibility of death would ultimately become our means of hope. "I am the good shepherd. I give my life for the sheep." This brings us to the fourth note of hope.
Lesson #4: A God is a God who is making “all things new.”
In my mind, the most intriguing verse in this chapter is God’s pronouncement to the tempter v. 15: I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head and you will strike his heel.
You might be able to imagine how much debate this has engendered among scholars over the centuries. Does it refer directly to the Messiah? Does it refer to the church being the instrument through which God will crush evil as Paul seems to suggest in Romans 16:20? Or is the Bible merely saying that there will always be a conflict between people and snakes? I will say, at least, this: I believe God is promising that those who do evil will be judged and that, ultimately, all evil will be crushed.
In v. 15, we catch the first glimpse of God's plan of redemption. Human sin has not taken God by surprise. His omnipotence is not rendered helpless by our failure. Nor is His omniscience perplexed. The seed of the woman would come to this world. Satan would injure him, but he would destroy Satan.
And so the curtain is drawn aside just for a moment on that cosmic drama, on that great battle, which filled all history. The relationship between God and people made in his image has been disrupted. In Genesis 3 Will these parties ever come back together again in the story God is telling about our world? Well, let me take us now to the end of the story.
The Culmination: God’s story will find fulfillment in a city-garden -- New Jerusalem.
I saw "a new heaven and a new earth," for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away... I saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among people, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" (Revelation 21:1-5)
Do you see it? God is going to make a world again, a world that is very good. God will again “walk with” people. He will live among people. The relationship with God that we have been made for will be restored completely. And it will be a city of people because there will now be people with whom God walks from every nation, every people group and every language group
But, the city will have a garden-like quality. It’s like walking through all the buildings of New York and coming to Central Park – through the high-rises of Chicago and coming to Grant Park or Lincoln Park. Look at the further description we find:
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city… There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.
The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 22:1-6
After our study in Genesis 1-3, do you see how God is bringing his story to completion?
*Right relationship with God restored – he will walk with us again.
*Right relationship with our world restored – beauty, affects of the curse removed, people furthering God’s rule as we reign again in the remade world just as we did in Genesis 2.
*And right relationship with one another – nations healed, no tears, no parting, tree of life accessible again!
What a story! Don’t you long for the ending? When the Bible ends with Jesus saying, “I am coming soon!” – don’t you want to say with Rev. 22:20, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
What turned the tide? How is God accomplishing this? Let’s go to another garden.
The turning point: God’s story of victory takes us to a garden -- Gethsemane.
When Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." Matthew 26:36-42
Jesus, here is in the Garden of Gethsemane knowing that he soon will go to a cross and experience not only physical death – but also the judgment for the sins of the world. So, he is aware of an imminent catastrophe that he will have to go through. But, more than that, he knows he has a choice to make. Jesus knows that he must make a choice between going through with this crucifixion or avoiding it. This is not a matter of fate. Jesus is wrestling with the possibility of escape. He must choose between his Father’s will and his own will. When we see Jesus in the Garden, we see a man just like Adam in Genesis 3 with a decision to make! “My will” or “the Father’s will.”
Twice he would return to seek comfort from his friends and twice he found them asleep. Jesus’ words to them in verses 40-41 are so significant: “Could you not watch with me for an hour? Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.”
You see Jesus, at that very moment, was experiencing a collision between the desire for obedience and the desire for rebellion. He wanted to do the will of the Father – his spirit was willing. But he wanted to avoid the cross – but the body is weak. Which did he want more? That was the issue. The Father’s will or my will?
We remember that once, long before, the first Adam had stood in a garden and faced a similar choice. But he had chosen selfishly. Made in the image of God he coveted equality with God as something he wanted. Satan told him, “You shall be like God.” And the result of his decision? Cosmic disaster.
In Matthew 26, we see the “Second Adam” in a garden. He bears the untainted-by-sin image of God. He has the opportunity to reverse his predecessor’s blunder. Jesus Choice:
*Where Adam was proud, Jesus could, if he chose, humble himself.
*Where Adam rebelled, Jesus could, if he chose, be obedient.
*Where Adam grasped at the forbidden fruit of the tree, Jesus could, if he chose, grasp the wood of the cross.
What would he do? Though the spirit was willing, Jesus said, the body is weak.
Where would Jesus find the strength to make such a costly decision? May I show you that the Bible gives us the answer three times:
*V. 39: Jesus fell to the ground and prayed.
*V. 42: He went away a second time… and prayed.
*V. 44: He went away a third time and prayed.
And the Bible tells us that each time he prayed the same thing. They were words that expressed the agony of the inner conflict – but also the resolution of that conflict: “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.”
The Big Question: “Why did Jesus make the right decision in the Garden of Gethsemane and Adam make the wrong one in the Garden of Eden?”
Theologians have always debated this question. I will only say one thing with absolute assurance: Jesus was not play-acting in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had a real decision to make. Jesus could distinguish his will from the Father’s. If he would die on the cross and bear our sins, it would not be because he was the victim of fate. It would be as a voluntary sacrifice.
So, I ask again, how did Jesus choose right when Adam choose wrong? The Bible lets us know that Jesus made the right decision because he prayed. The Garden of Eden is conspicuous for its lack of prayer. Adam didn’t want to acknowledge God’s presence because Adam wanted to go his own way. Adam didn’t want to consult God. But the Garden of Gethsemane is filled with prayer.
And out of his blood-inducing prayer on our behalf, Jesus urges us to be people of prayer. “Watch and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the body is weak.” But, above all things, prayer is a seeking of God’s will with a heart to do his will rather than our own.
And that brings us to us! We’re in this in-between time, aren’t we? God’s salvation has broken into this world, but we’re not at Revelation 22 yet! What is this saying to us?
It’s saying that we can already be forgiven of our sin and can experience the beginning of God’s renewing work now! We can walk with God again. We can begin to live in our relationships as God would have us to do – as we read his word and learn and live life in the church together. The walls that will eventually be down among people can already be experienced in God’s unexpected family. And, now, rescued by faith in Jesus and filled with God’s Spirit, you and I can go out into the world and further God’s reign. Our world can be a more beautiful place because we go into it filled with his love, caring for creation, and extending his grace to others.
But, until God finishes his work and the new garden in the city is created, we should not be surprised by the difficulties that fill our world. Like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, we will find:
1. Decisions between right and wrong will involve struggle. We should not be surprised at that. Doing right is not easy. Breaking addictions is not easy. Following Jesus when all your family and friends mock at it is not easy. Don’t be surprised. No one was a better “Christian” than Jesus – but still making the right choice was a struggle.
2. The Lord Jesus understands the temptations we feel and will meet us in their midst. We often are embarrassed to own up to the particular struggles and temptations we feel. “No other Christian has these,” we think. “Jesus would surely never have faced these,” we also think. Well, think again. Jesus understands the struggles we go through to see the will of God obeyed in our lives. And, he will not leave us alone in those struggles.
3. When we face temptation and have a decision to make, prayer is the key. It must be biblical prayer. We often have made prayer the opposite of what it is. We have sometimes seen prayer as a way to get our own will done. But, here we see that prayer involved walking with God. It is acknowledging God is God. We therefore are honest before about our struggle – and candid about our desire to have our own way. But, in prayer we acknowledge that He is the Lord. We own up to the fact that our spirits are willing to obey God – but we want to do something else – the body is weak. The “End Point” of all true prayer:
When we pray – truly pray – the result always is, “Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
What do we do when our wills point one way and God’s Word points in another? We have a choice to make? What do we do? Jesus shows us that we should pray. And how do we pray? It’s a tough prayer. The spirit may be willing but our flesh is weak. But, these victories – these times of struggling and then making a decision to obey God’s way rather than our own desire – become the greatest moments of our entire spiritual lives. When God’s story ends and all is made new, we will hear God say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.
The kingdom of God never advances more triumphantly than when men or women, faced with a strong desire to go our own ways, find the humility and courage to pray, “Your will be done.”
To His glory,
Dr. Greg Waybright
Senior Pastor
