Funeral [ ] 1/4/06 #639

GOD’S BEAUTIFUL GARDEN

Revelation 21:1-5

INTRODUCTION: “Paradise” is a Persian word adopted by the authors of the Bible. Originally, the meaning of the word was “a wooded park,” “an enclosed or walled orchard,” or “a garden with fruit trees.” In the N.T. the word is used as a synonym for heaven.

I. GARDEN OF EDEN

A. CREATION OF GOD.

“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.” (Gen. 2:8-10a)

B. COMMAND OF GOD.

“And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:15-17)

C. CURSE OF GOD.

“And unto Adam he said; Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, of which I commanded thee, sayng, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shall thou return. Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.” (Gen. 3:17-19, 23-24)

II. GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE

A. PLACE OF PRAYER.

B. PLACE OF PREPARATION.

1. Prepared His disciples.

2. Prepared Himself for the cross.

III. GARDEN FOR BURIAL

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulcher, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulcher was nigh at hand.” (Jn. 19:41-42)

If God hath made this world so fair

Where sin and death abound,

How beautiful beyond compare

Will paradise be found.

James Montgomery

IV. GARDEN IN HEAVEN

A. BEAUTY OF THE GARDEN.

R. G. Lee once said of heaven: "It is the most beautiful place the mind of God could conceive and the hand of God could create."

B. BLESSING IN THE GARDEN.

1. Blessing of Perfection. (v. 3, no more curse)

2. Blessing of Provision.

a. Water of Life.

“I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of water of life freely.” (Rev. 21:6)

b. Tree of Life.

“To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” (Rev. 2:7)

3. Blessing of Pleasure.

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.

"In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." (Ps. 16:11)

4. Blessing of Participation. (v. 3, his servants shall serve him)

5. Blessing of God’s Presence. (v. 4, and they shall see his face)

MY SAVIOR FIRST OF ALL

When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide,

When the bright and glorious morning I shall see;

I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,

And His smile will be the first to welcome me.

Thro’ the gates to the city in a robe of spotless white,

He will lead me where no tears shall ever fall;

In the glad song of ages I shall mingle with delight,

But I long to meet my Savior first of all.

Fanny Crosby

LESSONS FOR LIFE:

1. Jesus promised the thief would be with Him in Paradise.

“Various commentators have pointed out that when a Persian king wished to bestow upon one of his subjects a special honor, he made him a “companion of the garden.” The person chosen to walk in the king’s garden was a special friend and companion of the king. Thus, Jesus promised the thief that he would be a companion of the King of kings, walking with Christ in the garden of heaven.”

2. Jesus promised prepare a place in heaven for those who are His. (John 14:1-3)

3. Jesus is the only Savior for sinners.

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all.” (1 Tim. 2:5-6)

“Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)