Therefore the LORD God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. Gen 3:23 (NASB)

It didn’t seem possible, but yet there he was with Eve, looking back longingly for the idyllic life they had just lost.  How could this have happened!  Life was going along just fine and then suddenly it all went terribly wrong!  His mind racing, Adam vaguely remembered a serpent conversing with Eve, something about a food that was really good and the sudden realization that they were without clothing to cover their bodies.  Before, when the Lord would come to the garden, Adam could hardly contain his joy and excitement.  This was not the case today when the Lord when came calling for His children and they found themselves hiding from Him in the trees and vegetation, filled with shame and fear.  Something had indeed, gone terribly wrong!

I realize that the specifics related here are purely speculative on my part but I have to believe that when all was said and done on that sad and fateful day something similar must have gone through the mind of Adam.  He figuratively had the “rug of life” pulled out from under him and now nothing would be the same again.  He had sinned.  He had rebelled against God by disobeying Him.  And as a result, he and his helpmeet were no longer able to stand in the holy presence of the Lord.  But, that’s the way it is with sin.  It drives a wedge in our relationship with God (Isaiah 59:2), separating us from the One Who created us and loves us. 

It saddened God deeply to have to remove Adam and Eve from the place He had prepared for them, but His focus was now on another place to be prepared for His children of faith.  This place will be a permanent place of dwelling unlike the garden from which man was cast.  It will be a place where the Lord Himself will wipe away every tear for there will no death, no sorrow crying and pain. (Rev 21:4)  Jesus, who conquered sin and death, has gone to prepare this place for His disciples.  Those who love the Lord, who have put Him on the throne of their lives have been reconciled to God and have waiting for them, the gift of eternal life.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Cor 9:15)

Copyright © 2007, Nolan P. Rutter