PARADISE LOST
S T A T I O N 1
TRANSCRIPTION
Shalom.
It’s not just a greeting or a farewell, shalom is a perfect kind of peace. A wholeness, complete reconciliation, wellbeing. Shalom is an inward rest brought on by the presence of the Lord regardless of the outward circumstances.
In the beginning, GOD spoke everything into existence. And all He created was in a state of shalom. This environment of shalom is what ADAM and EVE entered into. Their world was complete. No lack of perfect intimacy with their almighty creator. They beheld His glory to their heart's content. There existed no shame, only child-like dependence and worship. A symphony of love, unity, fulfillment, perfect peace…a symphony of shalom.
“You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”
It is the free gift of eternal life that GOD gives to ADAM. But next to the tree of life is the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. ADAM and EVE walk by that tree every day to get to the tree of life. But one day, they stopped at the tree which leads to death and ate. Confronted with the choice to trust GOD, they chose their own way. Sin entered the world.
“Do you hear Him? He’s coming! We have to hide! Adam, don’t just stand there, do something! GOD can’t see us like this!”
“Look, we covered ourselves with the fig leaves, what else do you want me to do?! This is all you–”
“Where are you?”
“Uh..Father…we just…we heard You coming and we were afraid because…we’re naked…so we hid.”
“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”
“It wasn’t my fault, it was the woman You gave me! She gave me the fruit and….I couldn’t say no to her…so I ate it.”
“What have you done?”
“It was the serpent! He deceived me! I wasn’t sure about anything anymore. I couldn’t look away…the fruit looked so beautiful…the desire for it was like nothing I ever felt before…and I ate.”
Given the opportunity to confess and repent, they instead turned on each other. And just like that, shalom was lost. GOD, being the perfect judge that He is, did what had to be done. But even in the midst of the humans’ disobedience and sin, God showed great love and mercy. GOD made clothes from animal skins to cover them.
“We must protect them, if they stay in the garden and eat from the tree of life, they would live forever in their state of sin and separation from me. I don’t want that for my children. I will station the cherubim to the east of the garden and I will place the flaming sword to guard the path to the tree of life.”
Adam and Eve were banished from the garden… But not from the sovereign plan of God.
My children are gone and my heart breaks for them. I delighted in every moment we spent together. Teaching them all about their surroundings. Listening to their stories about new discoveries. Answering their questions. We sat together under the stars taking in all the beauty of the garden. We laughed together. We ate together. We sang and danced together. I couldn’t help but smile every time I watched them. I loved every second.
I miss them.
Our new relationship will be different. No longer can we be face-to-face. But I haven’t stopped being your Father. I love you! Life east of Eden will be so hard. But I will provide the only way back to shalom.