THE GARDEN OF GLORY

“The LORD God planted a GARDEN eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed” – Genesis 2:8

There is always the right GARDEN for GLORY to bloom and blossom: “The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed” (Gen.2:8). Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve were not only clothed with garments of glory, they dwelled in an atmosphere of glory: a pleasant, well-watered garden, rich in resources, flowing rivers and precious gems – gold, bdellium, and onyx stone (vv.9-12). Beyond the natural endowments and serenity of Eden however, the atmosphere of glory had much more to do with the overwhelming Presence of God: “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden” (Gen.3:8). The crux of the fall was separation from His Presence!

Glory is the hidden essence of all created things; and the primary purpose of life is for the glory within to manifest without. Real fulfilment is to fully manifest the glory within, and the environment in which the seed of glory is planted and allowed to mature thus becomes very pertinent. Seeds require the right soil to grow. Fish need water to bring forth their full essence. The glory of the bird is restricted by a cage. Man’s ideal environment was divinely designed and determined – by God! We need God’s Presence to manifest His divine nature. His Presence is the perfect environment for our flourishing.

The parable of the sower illustrates the significance of environment to the destiny of a seed: “But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold” (Lk.8:8a). Environment is a major determinant of the growth of every living thing. The environment of any creature will either corrupt or contribute to its destiny. The right environment is a prerequisite for a positive outcome of life. God’s Word confirms that a person’s environment affects his or her attainment in life. Our atmosphere affects the seed of glory in us. The input we receive into our lives from the environment affects the output of our lives. One major aspect of our environment is the people we associate with, the friends we keep, the people we confide in and receive counsel from, and especially the right marriage-partner. What we focus attention on and devote time to determines how far the seed of glory will thrive: “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1Cor.15:33).

Graves of glory – junkyards of wasted destinies – are the end-products when seeds fail to enjoy the right kind of atmosphere or environment. There is no greater and more beneficial environment for glory to thrive in Man than the Presence of God. To Cain for example, the most unbearable thing was not death, but the loss of God’s presence: “And Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear! Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground; I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth…” (Gen.4:13-14a). He never released his true glory. He represents the millions of people throughout history, who took their glory to the grave, restless wanderers on earth, without purpose or meaning.

Multitudes walk around with their “masterpieces” in their minds buried under wishful thinking, excuses, fear, procrastination, intimidation, pessimism and negativity. Millions die and deposit their glory in the grave. The cemeteries of the earth are filled with the buried glories of many who failed to access their true worth and left the earth without ever manifesting their full weight or shining to their fullest potential. In the graves of glory are dreams that remained mere wishes, music that were never composed, unwritten books, unexpressed ideas, unfinished projects, and untapped potentials! Beloved, your association determines your realisation of divine purpose. Disconnect from agents of corruption that hinder you from fulfilling destiny. Cherish and cling to God’s Presence. There is no better environment for His Seed of Glory to bloom and blossom!