From the Hayward church of Christ Bulletin

What is Paradise if It Cannot Be Shared?

    Many places on our planet can be called paradise on Earth. How many of these picturesque locations come to mind as you think about this reality—your garden, backyard, a lovely arboretum, a coastal state, and who can forget Hawaii. Like these locations and even more, we tell ourselves if we can only get there, we will be happy. So we make sacrifices to experience our little paradise on Earth.

    There are countless accounts of people who have left everything behind to get to the state of California. There is an influx of people traveling in every direction to get their little paradise on Earth. Regardless of the location of your paradise, reality sinks in. I have seen people harm themselves and others in some of the most beautiful places on Earth. Is paradise a reality for everyone living in these fairy tale conditions and environments? The obvious answer is no.

    The first and only man who owned everything on Earth was in the paradise of God (Garden of Eden), and he was not complete while he was there alone. God tells us in Genesis 2:18, "And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." God shows us that a person can be in paradise and not benefit from it if it is not shared. Therefore, on Earth, paradise does not always feel like paradise. When Adam was gifted with Eve, the Garden of Eden began to feel like paradise. To add to his paradise, God blessed Adam and Even with children.

    Paradise was lost when man separated himself from God because of sin. Genesis 3:23-24, "therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He 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." Adam and Eve lost access to the tree of life and their physical home; however, their home was always connected to God and family.

    I encourage you to be a child of God and stay connected to Him and your family. Be a spouse to your spouse, a friend to your friend, a parent to your children, a child to your parents, and you can experience your very own paradise on Earth. The tree of life awaits you in Heaven.

Courtney Henderson

Publ. Feb 5th, 2022