The Two Gardens in the Bible: A Reflection on Choices and Obedience

I was reflecting on the significance of choice and how it shapes the impact of God’s power and grace in our lives. The Holy Spirit used the two gardens in the Bible as an illustration of this concept.

The Bible presents two significant gardens—Eden and Gethsemane—each symbolising the choices we face in our journey of faith everyday. These gardens provide a powerful contrast that reflects the daily challenges believers encounter: the struggle between self-will and surrender to God’s will.

The Garden of Eden: A Choice of Compromise
In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve faced a straightforward command from God: to obey His word and refrain from eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. However, tempted by their own desires and the deceitful words of the serpent, they chose to compromise God’s word. Instead of trusting in God’s wisdom, they followed their feelings and reasoning. This act of disobedience brought sin and separation from God, demonstrating the devastating consequences of prioritizing self over divine instruction.

As believers, we often find ourselves in similar situations, tempted to prioritise our own desires and logic over God’s clear commands. The Garden of Eden serves as a reminder that compromising God’s word leads to brokenness, regret, and spiritual distance.

The Garden of Gethsemane: A Choice of Obedience
In stark contrast, the Garden of Gethsemane reveals the ultimate act of submission and trust. Faced with the impending agony of the cross, Jesus prayed earnestly, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Despite the tremendous cost, Jesus chose to obey the Father’s will, knowing it would lead to redemption for humanity. His obedience was accompanied by intense struggle, yet it resulted in eternal victory.

In our daily lives, we, too, are called to moments of surrender where obedience to God may require personal sacrifice, discomfort, or loss. Like Jesus, we are invited to trust that God’s plans and promises are worth the cost. The Garden of Gethsemane teaches us that obedience, even in suffering, leads to eternal reward and deep fellowship with God.

A Daily Crossroad
The two gardens paint a vivid picture of the choices we face every day:

Will we, like Adam and Eve, follow our own desires and compromise God’s word?

Or will we, like Jesus, surrender to God’s will, trusting Him even when the path is difficult?

The faith journey often brings us to our own “garden moments,” where we must choose between selfish desires and sacrificial obedience. Let us draw inspiration from the Garden of Gethsemane, knowing that faith in God’s word and His promises will always lead to ultimate victory and fulfillment.

In every choice, may we pray for the strength to say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” God bless you.

– Pastor Olayinka Ojo