Daily Devotions
Return to Paradise
Reading for December 8th: Galatians 4-6
Weekly reading for December 6-12: Revelation 1-5
"To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
Revelation 2:7
The Bible is a story that begins in a garden and ends in a garden.
The story of the Bible begins with God creating a perfect world, a world without pain or sorrow or death. He creates a man and a woman who are allowed to eat from the tree of life and live forever. They are given the opportunity to live with their Creator in perfect fellowship in this garden forever. But then a serpent tempts them to eat from the forbidden fruit and they are removed from the garden, the tree of life, and the presence of God.
The account of the serpent's triumph is recorded in the third chapter of the Bible (Genesis 3). In the third to the last chapter of the Bible (Revelation 20), we read of the serpent's defeat. This victory over the devil leads to a new heaven and a new earth where there is no more pain, sorrow, or death (Revelation 21). Finally, in the last chapter of the Bible (Revelation 22), there is a description of a garden-like city with the river of life flowing through it where we have the right to eat from the tree of life and dwell with our Creator forever.
There's been a lot of stuff on the news lately that's been depressing. It may be that your personal life has been making you discouraged as well. If you're frustrated with the world and sin and everything that's broken because of sin, spend at least a minute or two meditating on the life God has promised us in his paradise.
Come, Lord Jesus!
