Derek Smith, Lead Pastor LHBC

Genesis 3:1-7
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Genesis chapter 3 is the day everything unraveled. This is what is referred to as the fall of mankind. This is the day that sin, sickness, death, pain, and eternal separation from God entered the picture. Before this, Adam and Eve walked with God in the Garden of Eden face to face. It was Heaven on earth. They had unbroken fellowship with God; there was no shame, guilt, or sin to keep them from the Lord. They loved God and He infinitely loved them. The joy and peace of God filled their soul every day in a way we won’t fully understand until we get to Heaven. After this His infinite love was still there, but Adam and Eve’s love changed. They were now keenly aware of their sin and longed to hide from the very Presence they immersed themselves in before.

Some have referred to salvation as recovering the Garden of Eden. Through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross we are brought back into a right relationship with the Lord and we can walk and talk with Him and rest in His Presence. We can have a little taste of Heaven right here on earth. However, the same enemy that stole their intimacy with the Lord is the same enemy that wants to steal our intimacy with Him today. Satan is just as alive and real as he was then, and though he can’t steal our salvation he can steal our fellowship with God. He does this through doubt, skepticism, pride, and temptation. He entices us daily with the fruit of pleasure, comfort, and narcissism hoping we will take a big bite of his bitter produce.

Hey, I’ve got some good news. Through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus you can take back what the enemy has stolen! You can get back to the garden with God. James 4:7 says when we resist the devil he will flee from us, and Revelation 12:11 says we overcome the devil by the blood of the Lamb, the Word of our Testimony, and loving not our lives unto death. Be wise to his wicked schemes and speak the Word of God to those temptations he throws at you! When He reminds you of your past remind Him of His future, and when he tries to hand you his bitter fruit remember how sweet the Lord’s fruit is to your soul. He is the only one who satisfies!

Psalm 16:11 says in the Lord’s Presence there is fullness of joy and at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Don’t let Satan keep you from the garden. Resist the devil and conquer your flesh. Get in His Word daily and seek Him in prayer. Every morning get back to the garden with God and you will fully know His supernatural love, grace, peace, and joy!  

PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Loving Heavenly Father, in your Presence there is fullness of joy. Your Word says that the person who keeps his or her mind upon you will have Your perfect peace. Today Lord, I need your grace and power to overcome temptation. I thank you for defeating Satan forever through your shed blood and glorious resurrection. I want to dwell in the garden with You Lord every day. It’s in Jesus name I pray, amen.

MEMORY VERSE FOR THE WEEK:
Romans 1:20 – For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.