LightGrams
June 4, 2020
Volume 24, Number 19
Jose has become a very popular person in Paris, France. His real identity was undisclosed at the time of the May 22 article carried on Yahoo News. He became popular because he picked the locks of the closed gates that were keeping people out of parks in some of the poorer districts of the city.
Like many other cities around the world, Paris had been on lockdown in order to control the spread of the coronavirus. Restrictions were being eased and people were allowed to come out, with masks, of course. But the government refused to open the parks.
Jose explained his motivation: “Paris apartments are very small.” As the days were growing warmer he knew that being able to sit in the grass and smell the roses would be such a relief for many. So although he claims to be an honest man making an honest living, he felt the need to pick the locks and bring sunshine into several lives.
We imagine the Garden of Eden must have been much superior to any parks of our day. A place prepared by God Himself, it provided for every need Adam and Eve had. Can you imagine how beautiful it must have been?! But because of their sin, they were “locked out” of this Garden. God “placed cherubim at the east of the Garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life” (Genesis 3:24). They were banished from the tree that gave them perpetual life!
Ever since that day people have been “quarantined” to a life of sweat and toil, hardships, illnesses and death. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could somehow get out?
That’s not the last we read about the tree of life. In Revelation 22:14 we read that we may again have access to this tree: “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life …” The scene in this chapter is from heaven, where Christ will take His followers following judgment (see Matthew 25:46).
Heaven is everything the Garden of Eden was – minus Satan and his temptations. It’s definitely a place we want to be! Thankfully Jesus offers to take us there (John 14:1-3).
But hold everything! If you read further in Revelation 22:14 we see that a gate surrounds the city in which the tree of life is located. Maybe those same cherubim are still on duty, guarding the way to the tree of life. That’s not, however, what we read: “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.”
Jesus has unlocked the gates to the Eternal City, and the invitation has been extended to all to come eat from this blessed tree!
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2020, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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