Bible Society of South Africa

God’s gardening is never ending – 11 March 2020

By Hennie Symington

Bible text(s)

Revelation 22

1The angel also showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, and coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2and flowing down the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life, which bears fruit twelve times a year, once each month; and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.

Revelation 22:1-2GNBOpen in Bible reader

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, through the middle of the street of the city, also on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month … Revelation 22:1-2

God has been gardening since the beginning of time, looking after all creatures and cultivating the conditions in which life can flourish. Yet, God’s gardening doesn’t end there. His gardening extends to the end of time and to the new heaven and new earth. In Revelation we read about the New Jerusalem and the river of the water of life, and on each side of the river there is the tree of life providing fruit for the feeding and the healing of all nations. The river that is mentioned in this verse, recalls the Garden of Eden before the fall.

Sadly man has caused immeasurable damage to our, “mother”, the earth. The buzz word today is to “save nature” by putting certain rules for saving nature in place, but to no avail. As Christians the time has passed where we can sit back and leave it to the “greenies” or the “bunny huggers”. We all need to take heed of the damage the earth sustains through the destruction wrought by mankind.

Prayer: Thank you Lord, that You did not abandon us when we let your garden slip through our fingers. Thank you Lord that you are ever present in each of our humble gardens as we till the soil and plant the seed, succeed and fail, and begin again, knowing that love and forgiveness are the seeds for a new life in you.

Bible Society of South Africav.4.24.4
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