In the beginning, when the work of creation had been finished, "The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food." (Genesis 2:8-9)
The Lord still has a garden upon the earth, though Eden has long since been removed. Not the trees nor the shrubs nor the flowers were the most essential things in the garden, but the man and woman whom He created. The purpose of God was centered in these, and not in the beautiful things which surrounded them.
That purpose He has been steadily carrying out since time began. He has had a spiritual garden, in which Adam and Eve were the first plants, and which has spread out over the whole world, as the physical garden which was removed was doubtless designed to do. In this garden grow both wheat and tares; for the devil has sowed tares which have sprung up and developed more abundantly than the wheat. But the Saviour has said, "Every plant which my heavenly Father has not planted, shall be rooted up." (Matthew 15:13)
And when that rooting up has taken place, the physical garden will be restored and cover the whole earth, and thus the full purpose of God will be carried out. But while in this present state the tares grow largely in excess of the wheat, there is still abundant opportunity for the latter to attain a luxurious growth. It is "rooted and grounded in love," (Ephesians 3:17) and so has an abundance of the richest soil; for the Psalmist says, "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord," (Psalm 33:5) and, "the earth, O Lord, is full of your mercy." (Psalm 119:64)
And he also testifies that: "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." (Psalm 92:12)
"[He is] like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth his fruit in his season; his leaf shall not wither, and whatsoever he does shall prosper." (Psalm 1:3)
This garden is also full of most beautiful flowers, which are the promises of God. Not all the tares that are growing around us can hide these from our view, or shut us out from their fragrance. God has poured out His Spirit upon all flesh, and its work is: "To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified." (Isaiah 61:3)
If we will but let the Lord plant us in His garden, we shall find this world still a beautiful place in which to live.--Present Truth, October 4, 1894--Genesis 2:8-9.
E.J. Waggoner