The Challenge To Meekness

Posted on by October 31, 2013
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October 31st, 2013

Matthew 5:5 — Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Are you meek? I fear I am not, but I trust that Jesus is making me so. Those who are meek are blessed. Those who are not meek cannot rely on being blessed

It’s worth considering what the words “blessed” and “meek” mean.
The word “blessed”, or (or more strictly the word translated as “blessed” — a distinction I shall make only once) is the Greek word “makarios”. Makarios goes far beyond our normal understanding of blessing. In classic Greek it is used for a God-like or God-given joyful state. In Matthew it is a statement of how God views those who are blessed. William Barclay contrasts is with human “happiness” by pointing out that happiness — as it’s first three letters imply — depends on happenings.

The word “meek” is the Greek word “praus” also carries far more weight than might understand. In fact the way we usually regard it carries connotations of gentleness and even weakness that is really the reverse of what is intended. Meekness might better be considered as “strength under control” — you might think of a magnificent stallion brought to answer to the bridle, with strength deployed to just the extent necessary to carry its master.
Matthew Henry points out that “meekness may be considered with respect to both God and our brethren”. In the beatitudes Jesus is quoting from Psalm 37 which beautifully lays out the need for meekness before God; Psalm 37:11 says “But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” In Titus 3:2, Paul tells us “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. ”

Meekness played a prominent part in the spiritual makeup of some of the greatest people in scripture. Start with Jesus Himself — “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7). There is also His mother! What did Mary say to the angel Gabriel? “And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.” Then there’s Moses, of whom Numbers 12:3 says “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Now Moses was no softy — remember when he broke the tablets of the law, and when he struck the rocks at the Waters of Mara? Then there’s Job. Job had plenty of reason to complain — but under pressure “Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

In his little book “The Quest for Meekness and Quietness Of Spirit”, Matthew Henry offers the following hints (I’ve updated the language a bit):

  • Don’t hold tightly to the world and possessions
  • Repent, frequently, of sinful passion
  • Keep out of the way of provocation
  • Learn to take a deep breath
  • Pray to God to make you meek by the operation of the Holy Spirit
  • Keep checking yourself for progress in this area
  • Enjoy the company of meek and quiet people
  • Study the cross of Jesus
  • Remember the end to which you will come

    • It’s a great list isn’t it? I’m working on it. Would you like to join me? Maybe you’ll progress faster than I do?

    Do Not Give Place To The Devil

    Posted on by October 30, 2013
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    October 30th, 2013

    Ephesians 4:27 — Neither give place to the devil.

    Our church does not celebrate Halloween. In fact we try to keep local kids away from “Trick or Treat” with an alternative event called “Trunk or Treat” where scary costumes are not welcome, and the candy is supported with Biblical messages.

    Another thing that our church leadership has deprecated is the “cult” of Harry Potter. What’s going on? Is our church stuffed with legalistic killjoys? Not a bit of it. But it is full of people who care deeply about the tender minds of children. It’s a tricky balance.
    A few days ago I mentioned the ill effects of the Supreme Court 1968 ruling in Ginsberg vs. New York. There was at least one positive, however, in the comment that the government can’t “reduce the adult population…to reading only what is fit for children.” At least it recognized that there are things that may be fit for adults that are certainly not fit for children!
    A paper published in the September 2011 issue of the British Journal of Social psychology observes that reading material that describes aggressive behaviors tends to promote aggressive behavior in the reader. That’s just reinforcing the truth that every parent knows — what you expose children to influences the way they believe and behave. That imposes a heavy burden of responsibility when parents (and grandparents!) are faced with children wanting to share in the “fun” they see their friends having.
    I don’t know many parents who want to spoil the fun for their kids. Most parents, too, are aware that telling boys and girls what they can’t have is setting up for trouble. So what’s the plan?
    There’s another aspect to this, too. Soon or later, everyone is going to come up against the enemy. Everyone needs to be ready — but you don’t throw the youngest, least ready, soldiers into the battle. Preparation is the key. To me, that’s the logic behind an event like “Trunk and Treat”. It provides an opportunity to explain to the youngest children that some things are not good, and to offer an alternative.
    As the troops get older, though, just protecting is not enough. That’s why worldview education is so important. A worldview is the framework that shapes how we make sense of life and the world. It’s the essential tool kit for understanding events, books, movies and the pervasive influences that shape what we believe. A Christian worldview has as its foundation the idea that the Bible is completely true — the infallible Word of God. Teaching young people to apply a Christian worldview to events, books, movies and other influences provides them them with the essential tools they need in spiritual warfare. With a Christian worldview, applying Psalm 101:3 — “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” adds a lot of clarity to deciding what movies to see, what books to read and what events to go to, as well as pointing clearly to the exit when you stumble into something that offers only spiritual damage.

    If we don’t provide our children and young people with protection from harmful activities and insight with age-appropriate worldview education, we open the door wide for satan. That’s giving place to the devil. Let’s not do that.

    Let Us Worship And Bow Down

    Posted on by October 29, 2013
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    October 29th, 2013

    Psalm 95:1-2 — O come, let us sing unto the Lord : let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.

    Do you mind if I use today’s devotion to revel in a private pleasure? Today is the second day that our choir is working on recording a new Christmas project. (You know, I’m so old that when I was a kid they used to call it “making a record”!)

    It’s very moving for me to think that the combined work of the choir and the people will touch many, many, people. It will draw some of them to Jesus. It will change lives. It’s a blessing to be part of such a project.

    There’s another thing that moves me about this whole process. We are part of a musical river that flows from the sweet psalmist of Israel to the mighty chorus in the Revelation singing “the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” (Revelation 15:3)
    The tapestry of church music is wonderful. There is not the space in a short devotion to review all the threads. But just look — Psalms, hymns, gospel music, chorales, spirituals… In so many styles. It reminds me of the hymn by Frances Havergal, “Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace, Over all victorious, in its bright increase;Perfect, yet it floweth, fuller every day, Perfect, yet it groweth, deeper all the way.” Of course the theme is not worship … But it awakes the same response in me.

    There’s something miraculous about the continuity of musical worship. But that miracle is consistent, too. That same thread of continuity runs through all the spiritual disciplines. Prayer. Bible study. Contemplation. Christians have practiced these disciplines from the very start. Why do you suppose that is?
    I don’t really have Biblical warrant for it, but I think the great spiritual disciplines are gifts to us from God. Specifically, I believe they are our weapons, offensive and defensive, for spiritual warfare. Sing Christian music, put your heart in it and satan will surely be repelled. Read the Bible, day by day, store it in your heart and you will find it hard to sin against God. Have a quiet time, morning by morning — contemplate — and The Lord will guide you. Pray, constantly and He will help you. I don’t think it’s for nothing that we are instructed to sing, to read, to pray …

    I’m so grateful that God equipped us with these wonderful weapons to go with our full armor — and that He made using them such a joy!

    This Man Is Amazing

    Posted on by October 28, 2013
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    October 28th, 2013

    Matthew 8:27 — But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the and the sea obey him!

    Yesterday, I wrote to answer the question “Is Jesus God?” Now we’re past that, I’m moved to talk some more about how amazing the Son of God is.

    I know it’s a very limited point of view, but for me the most amazing things about Jesus are the things He’s done for me. He died to pay the price of my sins. Before I surrendered to Him, I had no idea what would happen in my life — I was hopeless. Now, no matter what the immediate circumstances, I know what the future holds and it’s a bright hope. That’s amazing. But the people that the man Jesus lived and moved among thought He was amazing too — and for more than one reason. You can do what I did — go to a concordance and look up words like “amaze” and “wonder” and “astonish” — you’ll see just how much. But let me give you a taste …

    First, as the text at the start of this piece shows, people were amazed at Jesus’s command of natural forces.

    Well, perhaps that’s not right. The first time we read of Him amazing people is in Luke 2, when the boy Jesus astounds the Teachers of Israel: “And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.” (Luke 2:46-47)

    Later, the Jews in Capernaum were amazed at the power of His speech: “And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.” (Luke 4:36)

    His power over evil was amazing: “Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David?” (Matthew 12:22-22)

    Jesus astonished people with His command over life and death: “And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.” (Luke 8:56)

    This man is amazing. But there’s something else amazing. How come they didn’t get it? How could they know the scriptures, how could they hear and see Him and not know? How come they don’t get it now. How can they see so many lives changed by the Christ, the Son of God, and not know Him for who He is.
    Oh, I know really. They didn’t know because they didn’t want to know. They don’t know, because they don’t want to know. Maybe that’s the most amazing thing about the Man. And the saddest. Is your heart broken yet?

    Answer The Question!

    Posted on by October 27, 2013
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    October 27th, 2013

    Matthew 16:15-16 — He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

    From when I was 10 years old (say, about 4th grade) for the next eight years, through my senior school education, I was tested a lot. I confess I was not very successful very often. But one lesson I did learn, because it was drilled into me. It was “answer the question”.

    As I’ve got older, I have come to appreciate the lesson. I hope you will forgive me if I observe that not a lot of people seem to share my appreciation. There’s one question, though, that is essential. It’s the one that Simon Peter answered so clearly. I’m guessing that almost everyone reading this has answered the question to their own satisfaction, and shared Peter’s answer. But every one of us has family members, friends, neighbors, colleagues and contacts who might not have the right answer yet. Today, I’m moved to join those trying to help you answer the essential question.
    In fact you might have to answer a preliminary question: “Why does it matter so much?” Only God — the Son of God — could pay the complete penalty for every sin that mortal man has committed. 1 John 2:12 tells us that Jesus did that.

    Jesus’s actions proclaim that He is God. So do His words, and the words of powerful witnesses.
    Now, nowhere in the Bible is it written that Jesus said, flat out, “I am God”. In many places, however, His combination of words and actions make the statement for Him. Consider, for instance the passage in Luke 5:17-26 where he forgave the paralytic his sins — provoking the Pharisees to say “Only God can forgive sins”, which Jesus promptly followed by miraculously healing the poor man. Or consider John 10:30 where it is written that Jesus said “I and the Father are one.” The Jews knew what He was saying. They tried to stone Him for blasphemy because “You, a mere man, claim to be God”.

    John wasn’t just a witness of Jesus’s claims. He was a witness in his own right. He said plainly at the start of his gospel, “The Word was God” and “the Word became flesh”.
    John was just one powerful witness. Thomas the disciple who is often now called “doubting Thomas” had no doubts. He said “My Lord and my God (John 20:28).
    There are many passages that make it clear that the apostle Paul believed Jesus to be God. One passage is Philippians 2. Verses 5 and 6 say “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God”.
    There are many other places in the Bible that make it clear that Jesus is God. For me though, perhaps the most powerful witness in the Bible is a non-believer speaking in what he might have seen as the moment of Jesus’s defeat. The Roman Centurion said “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54)!

    Make sure you answer the essential question. Friends, enemies, Jesus’s words and actions — they all make it clear. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

    Decline And Fall

    Posted on by October 26, 2013
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    October 26th, 2013

    Psalm 46:1-2 — God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

    Through this week My mind has been running on thoughts of sheep and shepherds, and when our readings this morning included Jeremiah 50:6 it seemed to me that today’s devotion would have the failure of America’s shepherds as it’s theme. As Myra and I talked though, I sensed the Holy Spirit leading me another way, back to these verses in Psalm 46 which, coincidentally, was one of the first Bible passages to make a strong impression on me.

    It saddens me that I feel some of the things I feel about America. For so long this country was not just the industrial powerhouse of the world, but also the faith powerhouse. It seemed like a mountain towering strong above so many others. Something happened this week that convinced me that the mountain has been carried into the midst of a sea of moral degradation.
    There was a lot of excitement during the morning news program that we usually have playing while getting me ready for work. The movie is called “Shades Of Grey”. Let us not beat about the bush: It is based on a pornographic novel. Do you doubt my description? Wikipedia describes it in the following terms, “It is notable for its explicitly erotic scenes featuring elements of sexual practices involving bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, and sadism/masochism.” Pornography is defined as the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement. I rest my case.
    The morning news program is giving its approval to pornography. I am so glad I am not a parent having to explain that to a beloved son or daughter. But how did we get here? How did the mountain get carried into the sea?

    The mountains look so strong, but the waves nibble away at the foundations, here a little and there a little, and suddenly — so it seems — the mountains crumble, cataclysmically, into the waters below.

  • The Scopes trial in 1925 asserts the preeminence of man’s “knowledge” over Biblical truth, and a major wave crashes into the foundation.
  • Everson vs. Board of Education in 1947 confuses the constitutional establishment clause and lays the foundation for attacks on religious exercises in any public forum. More of the foundation is undermined.
  • The Supreme Court opens the way to a flood of pornography in 1968 holding in Ginsberg vs. New York that the government can constitutionally prohibit children from accessing certain types of sexually explicit material that it can’t constitutionally ban for adults — that the government can’t “reduce the adult population…to reading only what is fit for children.”
  • The California Family Law Act of 1969 introduces the notion of “no-fault” divorce, undermining the family, and more of the foundation is eaten away.
  • The Supreme Court decision in Roe versus Wade in 1973 brings the tidal wave of abortion crashing against the base of the mountain.
  • In 1992 the District Of Columbia becomes the first state to approve same-sex union, and gives a push to the waves undermining traditional marriage as a foundation of the mountain.

    • I haven’t touched on the part that educators, entertainers, and news media have played in this tragic process. Perhaps my original sense that it was about the shepherds was right. That verse in Jeremiah begins “My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains:” When legislators, time after time, make it clear that they will not take a stand on moral issues, will not support Biblical values, it is no surprise if the people follow like sheep. If the foundations are eaten away, if the highest authorities in the land cheer on the process, it should be no surprise when the mountain falls into the sea.

    This breaks my heart … And yet, and yet … “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear”. Even when the mountains crumble into the sea, God is still God. I am determined to pray constantly, to beg that He turns back the tide. Will you pray with me?

    What Kind Of Fool Am I?

    Posted on by October 25, 2013
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    October 25th, 2013

    Psalm 14:1 — The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good.

    Do you remember the old love song — I think Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davies Jr. both recorded it — “What kind of fool am I who never fell in love …”?

    The Book of Proverbs identifies four kinds of fool. There’s the simple fool. Then there’s the hardened fool. There’s the arrogant fool. Finally, there’s the brutish fool.

    The simple fool: “What kind of man is this? An empty shell – A lonely cell in which an empty heart must dwell”. This is how most of us start. The word in Proverbs 1:4 and other verses carries a sense of “being open”. Now being open minded, if it means teachable, is a good thing. Sadly, open minded sometimes translates as “empty headed” and as Eric Hoffer, the moral and social philosopher once remarked, “An empty head is not really empty; it is stuffed with rubbish. Hence the difficulty of forcing anything into an empty head.” There is hope for the simple fool. He (or she, to be fair!) can be taught. In fact that’s what Proverbs 1:4 says that’s what proverbs are for — “To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.”

    Sadly, a lot of simple fools just don’t learn. They turn into “hardened” fools: Proverbs describes them as “thick” (as in 10:22 and other places) and “stupid” (10:18, and many more references). This man had practiced stupidity! He makes foolish decisions, but he is not young or naive. He’s not going to listen to seven wise heads (26:16) — in fact doing wrong is like a sort of game to him (10:23)! You can’t even beat sense into a hardened fool. There was a Proverb in Rome — “verbum sapienti sat est”, a word to the wise is enough. But 100 stripes won’t cure a hardened fool (17:10).

    There’s worse than the hardened fool, I think. There’s the arrogant fool. The “letz”, the scoffer. Perhaps the worse thing about this kind of fool is that he’s a trouble maker. Proverbs 22:10 says, “Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.”

    Last of all, and worst of all, is the brutish fool. About him, Solomon says, “The father of a fool hath no joy.” (17:21). The word is “Nabal”. You might recognize the word. There’s a man called Nabal, who nearly gets killed after he insults King David (1 Samuel 25). He’s a perfect picture of the brute fool.
    The brutish fool is the one of whom Psalm 14 says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God”. (The exact words are repeated at the start of Psalm 53). Abigail, the wife of the Nabal who insulted King David said of her brute, “Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him:”. Belial is Hebrew word meaning “worthlessness” or “wickedness” — but in the New Testament becomes a name for satan. That says all that needs to be said about the brutish fool.

    So what kind of fool am I? I’d prefer to think none — but Dear Lord, if I must be a fool, let me be the simple, teachable, kind — and thank You for not making me the kind of fool that never fell in love!
    Amen.

    Take God At His Word

    Posted on by October 24, 2013
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    October 24th, 2013

    Isaiah 30:15-16 — For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

    How is it that so often we fail to take God at His word?

    There are so many places in the Bible where we get the message — Trust in The Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3), Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalms 37) — and the text above is just one of the passages where the word is passed through Isaiah. “Trust me,” God says, “I’ll take care of you.” So what happens when the going gets tough?

    “When the going gets tough,”, the saying goes, “the tough get going”. And all too often, that’s exactly what happens. The Israelites flee to Egypt, couples struggling with their marriage flee to divorce, workers struggling with the job jump to the next one …

    And how’s that working for us? I think it’s working for us pretty much how it worked out for the Israelites. Here’s what God told Jeremiah to tell them:
    And now therefore hear the word of the Lord, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there; Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

    The Israelites went to Egypt, and disaster followed them. And that’s the central point of the message. Usually the trouble we’re dealing with is the trouble with us, so wherever we go the trouble goes with us, the disaster follows us.

    I think I said, earlier in the week, that I’ve been re-reading Phillip Keller’s book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23”. In one passage he describes the shepherd tenderly combing through the fleece of an infested sheep, to take away whatever was causing problems. Of course for that to work, the sheep has to stand still. The picture is of the Father taking away the cause of our troubles. And we have to stand still! Thus sayeth The Lord, “Be still, and know that I am God”!

    The Power Of Waiting

    Posted on by October 23, 2013
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    October 23rd, 2013

    Isaiah 40:31 — But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

    I’m happy to say I traveled home today. Sometimes travel is essential, but I’m never at my happiest when Myra and I are apart. Sometimes, too, no matter how worthy the objective or splendid the destination (and many of them are not so splendid!), the actual business of traveling is tedious. Today, for instance, I spent almost as much time waiting in airports as I did on the move. My mind turned to this question of “waiting”, and this very familiar text from Isaiah.

    I have to admit that I wish that I hadn’t been prompted on this topic, because as it unfolded itself to me, it turned into a rebuke!

    Waiting, it seems to me, joins “death and taxes” as one of the inevitable experiences of life. The question is not “shall we wait?” but “how shall we wait?” Sometimes my waiting at airports can be a little aimless, sometimes it has some value, sometimes it’s productive, and sometimes it’s a downright blessing.

    Today, waiting at Nashville was truly just a filling in of a few brief minutes waiting to board. Clearing airport security took a surprisingly long time, so there wasn’t much real “waiting” time. At Charlotte, where we had a 90-minute layover it was different. I had time to make a pretty productive phone call, and catch up with some email — so that might be called productive. Sometimes, not as often as I would like, the waiting is an obvious blessing — perhaps I have a chance to talk with someone about Jesus, or my mind settles to prayer. All to often, though, my waiting is a little aimless — some wandering around, a snack, some light reading … not really productive, and not really restful either.

    Now, how about those who “wait upon The Lord”? Of course I have to admit that when Isaiah says “wait”, he’s really talking of something different from what I’ve been talking about. He’s really talking about those who put their hope, their reliance, in God. In New Testament times the phrase can fairly be applied to those who seek The Lord Jesus Christ. They will fly above all circumstances, they will move quickly when they need to, and they will have all the endurance they need.

    The two trains of thought do connect, however. It seemed to me as I thought on this topic that as I waited — for my flight, or for anything else — I should remember where my hope comes from, and who I rely on. It seems that I should build that habit of mind and, as I build it, it should encourage me to be more inclined to seek The Lord in “down time”. Wasted waiting time can never be reclaimed. I need to turn more of it into blessed time!

    What Must It Be Like?

    Posted on by November 9, 2014
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    October 22nd, 2013

    Genesis 2:8-10 — And 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; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden;

    As I begin today, I am sitting in a place of great manmade beauty. I am listening to the tumbling waters of two great and two lesser waterfalls. I can see beautiful Passion flowers, and peace lilies, and floating baskets of impatiens (we used to call those bizzy-lizzies where I come from). All of this is one of several areas in a resort where I am staying for a conference. 57 acres under glass, with a temperature maintained at a consistent 72 degrees all year round. It is truly very beautiful. The surroundings are paired with pleasant architecture and the whole is a tribute to its creators. But I was given pause, to think …what must it be like to live in the garden designed and built by the Creator?

    In the first garden every tree grew that was pleasant to look at. Every tree grew that was good to eat. It was watered by a river provided for that express purpose. Later in the chapter we find, too, that the garden provided occupation — responsible occupation — for Adam.

    Now the beautiful place in which I found myself today had its drawbacks too. It’s a tightly controlled environment. In fact it’s so tightly controlled that there aren’t many insects. With no insects, there are no birds except for a few handsome ducks. Eden, of course, suffered from no such drawbacks. It was perfect. Can you imagine what it must have been like?

    Maybe we don’t have to imagine. In the very last book of the Bible, right at the end starting at Revelation 21:10-27 we find the description of the a new Jerusalem, a city so beautiful it defies our imagination. The description is glorious, and it tells of a river running through — “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”

    The creators of the garden I was in today are made in God’s image. In some way their creativity reflects His — but of course His is so much more wonderful. I can’t wait!