Devotion / The Father of all gardens

Do you garden? It's a common pastime worldwide. Australia boasts the highest percentage of gardeners, China is second, and the U.S. comes in third. Here, an estimated 55% of us tend gardens — that's 185.9 million Americans! You can imagine how high that number is in China?

If you’re among those millions, you know gardening is hard! Plant and you can be sure weeds will sprout!

The perfect garden

Of course, Christians know that the Father of All Gardens was God himself. Genesis 2 reveals that the Creator planted the first garden in Eden. It was a flourishing, well-watered garden with all kinds of fruit trees and much more. The Lord describes it as very good — the perfect garden.

Sin destroyed all that, and weeds are but one outgrowth (pun intended)! Since then, humankind has been striving to plant amazing gardens. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon were one of the great Wonders of the World. China today boasts many, including the Yu Garden in Shanghai, and both the Humble Administrator's Garden and the Lingering Garden in Suzhou.

Solomon’s garden

King Solomon describes in Ecclesiastes 2 how, in his quest to find meaning, he attempted “great projects” (v. 4). I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them (v. 5). His words echo the Genesis 2 description of the Garden of Eden.

Was he attempting to plant a garden that would rival Eden? Perhaps. Regardless he — even with all his wisdom and wealth — was unable to re-create God's perfect garden. Even his best efforts were chasing after the wind. He confesses that he gained nothing, despite denying himself anything his eyes desired (v. 10).

Jesus’ garden

Solomon, the Teacher, was thwarted by the curse of sin back in that first garden. But the true Teacher, Jesus, redeemed the world from this horrible curse. Captured in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was crucified on a tree from the forests he created. At his resurrection, Mary was looking for the gardener she thought had taken his body away. Instead, she is greeted by the Master Gardener who transformed everything so that Paradise is now open again to our fallen race.

Praise the Lord! Thank you, Jesus! May we use the world's love of gardens to point to you — the seed that was planted and blossomed into eternal life for all who trust in you!

By Dave Payne