We are not going back to the garden of Eden. The Word of God makes that really clear. People were banned from the garden in Genesis 3:23-24. I think that is instructive for our days.
We never really go back anywhere to find things the same as when we left them.
Where are we going one asks? We came from a garden and we are going to a city.
We are going to the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21.
It has already been a long journey. And we are not there yet. Personally, I will be quite surprised if I will still be here when the final shift happens, but we always need to be ready. (Matthew 25) The Lord is outside of time and we cannot be certain.
In the meantime, we walk with God. We no longer walk with God like the first couple in the Garden. “We live by believing, not by seeing.” 1 Corinthians 5:7
Because life is about relationships, we rest in our relationship with our Creator. It is in that place that we become whole. Through intimacy with the God of the Bible we are transformed from glory to glory. (2 Corinthians 3:18) Here we learn to reflect the image of Christ that only we, each individual, can reflect to our areas of influence.
It is from this place in Christ that we take back the dominion we gave up in the garden.
From here the Holy Spirit guides and empowers us to rule and reign from our seat in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 2) Stepping into our authority from this place of rest and confidence, the sufficiency of Jesus is preparing the way to the city, the New Jerusalem. Not only for us, but also for those we influence for the Kingdom.
We are not going back.
“13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[d] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” Philippians 3
Care to join me?
