“Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”
Genesis 2:10-15 NKJV
If Adam only knew the numerous possibilities in God, the tree would have never been an option for him. The very wisdom of God was available to him but deception made him believe less. The habitation of man was not just the garden but the very presence of God. Today, many of us disregard the presence but aim for gifting and power. By so doing we are no different from the first Adam.
Eden was a place of communion between God and man. Spirit communication was the very medium in this communion. After man sinned and was hiding in shame, the soul was afflicted disregarding the fact that man was also a tripartite being, and the spirit had been lessened to the feelings of the soul. David’s rendition in Psalm 91, reveals reliance, dependence and trust in God. But most of all the promises of assurance and security was on the basis of these;
“Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.”
Psalm 91:14 KJV
The very first principle of abiding in the presence is the love factor, precisely, intimacy. It was love that kept drawing the Father back to man whom he had made. Many times the Lord had grieved for the sin of man yet He would make a new plan of redemption. Intimacy is in no way a monologue, but a dialogue. Though the limitation that set man apart from God have been broken through a stronger covenant appropriated by faith, intimacy is rebuilt through our Lord Jesus. Realize that in the garden, God the Father came to man(Genesis 3:8). Love and intimacy takes effort , this was not the only first time in scripture God visited man.
Intimacy thrives on the willingness of both parties to abide together.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
John 15:4 KJV
Intimacy recognizes strength in togetherness. This is what Christ implied in the verse above. As humans, it is notable to realize that we are social beings, not merely physical but also spiritual. Hence God said it was not good for man to be alone. The most intricate intimacy of all, is that with our Father, Abba the source.
““O generation, see the word of the Lord! Have I been a wilderness to Israel, Or a land of darkness? Why do My people say, ‘We are Lords; We will come no more to You’? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number. “Why do you beautify your way to seek love? Therefore you have also taught The wicked women your ways.”
Jeremiah 2:31-33 NKJV
Our social nature does not flourish without the actual source . We may formulate modern ways to preoccupy ourselves with other things, they will only serve as distractions and disappointments when our true source of intimacy is estranged. Good morning Beloved.