Genesis 3 in the Garden

My garden has been crying out for me to tend to it for too long now. This evening I ventured into it to cut the grass and “do some weeding”. I was confronted with a taste of the curse of Genesis 3:17 when God cursed the ground because of Adam and the ground produced thorns and thistles as a result.

My forearms are testifying to the thorns and thistles and I was confronted with the truth of God’s Word. It reminded me, not only, of my neglect of things horticultural but my neglect of things spiritual at times - many times. How easy it is to grow cold, lazy and negligent in my love for God and His Word.

I couldn’t believe how much effort the garden required just to look tended to again and it still requires more work! So does my walk with God and how I need the help of the Holy Spirit to walk humbly and steadfastly with Him. As I examine my life, it is full of the thorns and thistles of pride, laziness, anger...the list goes on and reflects somewhat the mess and chaos of the wider world. Right there in the garden of my own heart.

Adam wouldn’t have then known the full implications of his and Eve’s actions but even there, in the 3rd chapter of Genesis, God gave them a promise of redemption. I love how Jesus is prophesied right there in verse 15 when God was cursing the evil one for tempting Adam and Eve. Jesus would, one day, conquer him. Sin won’t reign in this world indefinitely without being checked, without being challenged, without being vanquished! And, that’s why Jesus came, to deal with these spiritual and physical weeds, thistles and thorns. I’m looking forward to the new heavens and new earth, in which righteousness will dwell forever.