“Sir, this is paradise.” A young worker at our house uttered these words. Such a simple statement. Such an impactful statement. Six years ago we made the leap from the suburbs to the country life. We bought some acreage, demolished an old home place and built a new home. It’s beautiful here. Someone once compared our home to a picture on a postcard. We have trees and flowers all around. Wildlife is abundant. There is a nicely stocked lake as well as a pond that hosts an abundance of turtles, fish and the occasional goose, turkey, raccoon or coyote family.
Why is our home a paradise? It’s peaceful. It’s relaxing. It’s calm. It leaves you feeling contented and all is right with the world. At least for a moment. Then the storms come. The pear trees split. Then the scorching summers come. The ants bring their armies out to attack everything in their path. Then the drought comes. Trees and shrubbery die due to lack of nourishment. Then the night creatures come. They steal the food from the birds, or gnaw on the flowers and roses, destroying everything they can eat or climb. So paradise is riddled with challenges at times.
Sound familiar? In Genesis, Adam and Eve once lived in paradise. The Lord planted a garden for them (Genesis 2) and even watered it Himself. God walked and talked daily with Adam. So why did they decide that paradise wasn’t enough? They focused on the one thing they couldn’t have….the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2) and they listened to very bad counsel. There is a reason that the serpent was more crafty than any of the other animals. The serpent whispered doubt in the ears of Eve and in turn she convinced Adam to be disobedient to God’s instructions. Then you probably know the rest of the story. All mankind’s future was changed forever.
I’m not so different from Adam and Eve. I live in a beautiful place. However, I often focus on the one thing that is out of reach, even if that thing might not be good for me. So what should I focus on? There is an easy answer: God. The thief on the cross being crucified beside Jesus knew what to focus on. The thief was in agonizing pain due to his immoral behavior. The thief knew he deserved his death sentence, yet he also knew that Jesus was innocent. The thief believed that Jesus was Lord. In Luke 23:42-43 he exclaims, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Many theologians banter back and forth as to the meaning of paradise in this passage. But this I know…if Jesus is in paradise…that is where I want to be also.
Adopted Through Grace 