Eden: Past and Future
By Carolyn Hulliberger
“He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the
tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth...”
Isaiah 25:8 (NIV)
Imagine the scene: Adam, newly
created by God, enjoying perfect community and conversation with the Creator,
naming the rest of creation (Genesis 2:19). “Adam, what would you like to
name this one? Cow? Sounds nice. I like
how I made the eyes on this one…very gentle. Let me show you how she needs to
be milked. That will be part of your job. Oh, what about this one? Hawk, you
say? I love how majestic he looks in the air.Then there’s this little
guy…Bunny? I’m especially fond of his softness. We’ve got another one, right
next to the one you called Lion…Lamb? That sounds perfect. This one will need
to have its coat cut back. I’ll show you how we’re going to do that. Let’s take
a look at the fish next…”
Fast forward to Genesis 3. Eve and
Adam have disobeyed God. Their eyes are opened to their nakedness (v. 7) and they sew fig leaves together to
cover themselves. My mind’s eye sees them as franticly gathering leaves,
helplessly trying hide their nakedness from God, but more importantly…their
shame.
God still sees them, and knows that
the perfect communion He created and enjoyed, has been shattered. His creation
will now experience pain, destruction and death. He sees the shame, and knows
the fig leaves will not hold up. So “The LORD God made garments of skin for
Adam and his wife and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21). Here Scripture records the
first death. Visualize, “Adam, I need you to bring me Lamb. I will help you
with your nakedness. This is how you will cover yourselves.” And the precious
pet is sacrificed to cover their shame, while they look on. In the background,
Hawk swoops down to take Bunny, and Cheetah takes down Gazelle.
The world became broken. And I want
to weep for what was lost.
Thankfully, God’s story is not
finished, and someday Eden will once again be restored for those who follow Him:
“And I heard a loud voice from the
throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their
eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order
of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).
And I want to cheer for what will be
found again.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
Spend time imagining yourself in Eden and what communion with God will
be like.
FURTHER
READING:
Along with caring for her family, Carolyn works
as an insurance representative and serves in Oakwood Church as a Community
Group leader.
