Genesis 3:8 - Walk this way, please, watch your step . . . . .

"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden."

Around 8:30 on a saturday morning in early August, I went to DJ's greenhouse (this place is a mini-Phipps Conservatory!).  It was only about 55*, but the day showed promise.  The sky was clear, the sun was shining brightly, and although the dew on the grass was so heavy you thought it had rained, it was delightfully refreshing on my bare feet.  It was a truly beautiful, tranquil morning.  The grounds of the greenhouse are magnificently landscaped with benches and swings throughout for sitting and meditating.  There is a huge, elegant weeping willow in the middle of the grounds that takes your breath away.  And the flowers, well, the flowers incredible.   As I walked through the gardens enjoying the birds and flowers and serenity, I thought of Adam and Eve walking with God and how unimaginably stupendous that must have been. 

Was it a lush garden like this?  Did the birds come and sit on their shoulders?  Was there dew on the grass to cool their feet?  What kind of conversation did our first parents have with the Lord God?  Did they make small talk?  Did they laugh and giggle?  Did they hold hands with Jesus while they walked?  Did they get tired and lay down in the shade to rest?  Did they have picnics?  Did Jesus play hide and seek with their children?  How long did they live there?  What was it like to be in paradise with God and have no fear, no guilt, no concept of wrongdoing?

Of course, I too was walking with Jesus in the garden that morning, but not face to face like our  first parents did.  Sometimes I feel cheated that they got to be with Jesus and I don't.  Well, not yet, anyways.  I want to see Him and touch Him and hear Him laugh with delight just because we're together.   I want to see Him wiggle his toes in the wet grass and giggle at the joy of it all.  One little taste of fruit cost me the loss of face to face intimacy with my Lord.  Just one teensy-weensy-itty-bitty-not-even-chewed-and-swallowed bite. 

That is the cost of sin.  As soon as their teeth sank into that piece of fruit, Adam and Eve knew instantaneous separation from God.   I can't begin to imagine their feelings of emptiness and awareness of their condition at that moment.  I know how my insides quiver like soft jello whenever I do something outside of God's will and I've never seen His face.  Sin separates us from God, and once you've known the intimacy of being with Jesus, the absence of it is devistating.  True repentance is the only way back.

Adam and Eve did not repent, and paradise was lost!  But God's mercy and comapssion for our spiritual void gave us Jesus and the way back into true life.  Praise God Almighty for His holy loving kindness!!!  In a world of sin, we can still walk the way of Jesus, but we must watch very carefully not to stray off the path  of righteousness.  It's a narrow path, but Jesus is holding hands and walking with us to keep us safe.  And so often we hear Him whisper to our spirit  "walk THIS way please, watch your step . . . . "

When was the last time you consciously and purposely took a walk with Jesus?  You might want to try it, holding hands with Him and seeing the beauty of God's creation.  Oh, the undescribeable joy of it all !!!!

"Walk with me Lord Jesus, everywhere I go.  I want my spirit to be so in tune with you that I am ever conscious of Your Presence with me.  I want to share every bit of my life with You and take joy in the sharing.  Lead me in the path of righteousness for Your Namesake, Lord.  Let my life be a glory and honor to you.  Amen."

FOR FURTHER STUDY:

Genesis 5:24
Exodus 33:11
2 Kings 2:11
Job 6:24
Psalm 119:33
            143:10
2 Timothy 4:3
Hebrews 8:11
1 John 3:2
3 John 1:11