To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. – Jesus

Paradise—what a happy word. I can’t think of anything bad or sad to connect with the word paradise. Only good and warm thoughts surface in my mind.

As a boy, to hunt in the heat of the foothills of the Guadalupe Mountain Range of New Mexico was recreation. On rare occasions, we would come across a shallow ravine with a shade tree, large rocks for chairs, a refreshing breeze in the shade, and perhaps cool sand or grass at our feet. Often, our label for such a spot was ‘paradise’.

Jesus describes God’s restored garden as paradise.

He gives us an insight. Like Eden’s Garden, the tree of life returns to the restored garden.

After Satan messed with the garden, one of God’s first actions was to block the tree of life from his creation. Angels with flaming swords kept man distant from eternal life. The Godhead declared the action was to keep man from living eternally in his new sin prone life style.

Because of Jesus and the blood covenant made with Him, God will declare me victorious. When I finally reach my new home in God’s garden, the tree will never again be restricted. I will have free access to eat from the tree of life.

In the shade of Paradise, God will be present, the Holy Spirit will be there, and Jesus will be there, with His bride—the church.

I suspect we will be completely overwhelmed with the total goodness present, so overwhelmed we will not miss the absence of those who follow the world. Could it be in our new state God will blot from our memory any sense of loss of those we loved on earth who rebelled against God?

I love the garden picture painted by John:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 

. . . the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

I can only echo the prayer of John—”Amen, Come, Lord Jesus.”

Stay tuned. – Gary J. Sorrells