Neville Turley

“The angel also showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, and coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb and flowing down the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life, which bears fruit twelve times a year, once each month; and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:1-2 (GNT)

If you are stressed and suffering from burnout then take time to stand back and savour the joys of nature. Nothing is more invigorating and refreshing than relaxing in the beauty of God’s garden and feeling your worries melt away.

Dorothy Gurney (1858-1932) penned the moment so well in her poem “God’s Garden”.

The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth, -

One is nearer God’s heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on earth.

Three gardens feature in God's dealing with man.

God placed Adam and Eve in the idyllic Garden of Eden. All was perfect until Adam and Eve fell for the devil’s wiles and ate from the tree forbidden to them. Today we all suffer the consequence of that sin.

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that our Lord’s terrible suffering began when he was betrayed by Judas and arrested. Dorothy Gurney captured that moment which would culminate in the Lamb of God sacrificing his own life to save us from sin.

For he broke it (Christ’s heart) in a garden,

Under the olive trees

When the angel of death was the warden

And the soul of the world found ease.

In our verse today, heaven is revealed to John as a flourishing garden of incredible beauty, abounding in life. What the Good Shepherd promised believers on earth is fulfilled in heaven too. “I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.” (John 10:10)

What a glorious God we serve. All our hope on him is founded.

Prayer: Heavenly Father we praise and worship you. Strengthen us by your Holy Spirit so that we may make known the glory of your grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen