8-2-2018

 Good Morning All,

           Genesis 2:15; “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.”

      We are in the midst of gardening time in our corner of paradise.  Great expectations and intense hope and deep desire born in the early spring are now abounding in all gardeners young and old, novice and experienced.  Some gardens are big, like my neighbor’s; some gardens are not so big, like mine.  Some gardens are for food, like mine; some are for beauty, like my wife’s.   Yet all gardens have one thing in common, you have to work and keep them in order for them to produce.

    This was and is the primary purpose that man was created.  We are to take care of creation.  This includes the planet, the plants and animals, the people; everything that is in all creation.  Every single thing which God created; man is supposed to “keep it” to take care of it.  Sadly, sin changed man’s desire.  Our desire went from caring for the beautiful creation that God gave us to a desire to exploit, use, abuse and discard.

     We see that everywhere we look.  We see man exploiting the land and destroying it in the name of selfish gain.  We see man abuse and misuse each other for the same selfishness.  We see greed and a callous eye to those who are in need.  We see where most of the pain that humans experience is caused by their fellow man.  Man has turned his back on his fellow man, on the health of the rest of creation and on God his creator and sustainer.

    This is why Jesus had to come to this world, humble himself and redeem mankind.  He came to reclaim creation, all of creation, from sin and its destructive nature.  He came to reclaim one sinner at a time bringing God’s forgiveness and his Spirit which brings about our renewed original created desire- to take care of the creation.

     God moves us to want to care.  God moves us to see the needs of our fellow man and to desire to aid him.  We may wonder about how to aid but we desire to aid.  God’s Spirit moves us in that direction and desires that we continue in that direction.  God’s desire is that we return to wanting to “keep the garden” that is to care for his creation.  We can care for it just as Adam did.  God placed Adam in the garden and God has placed you where you are in order to care for his creation where you are.  It might be your neighbors down the street or across the road but God has given you a place in his garden and a task to perform out of love for him.

Father in heaven, you created us and sustain us.  You sent Jesus to redeem us so that we might be your people.  Keep us steadfast in our faith.  Keep us in your loving arms.  Guide us to be the caretakers of your creation, spreading your mercy throughout the entire existence.  Be with those who are in pain or suffer.  Send them your healing touch.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret