Adam and Eve were created to live forever in a perfect paradise, but they rejected God and ate from the forbidden tree. Because of their disobedience, they were cast out of the Garden of Eden.
Genesis 3:23-24 — “Therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden to work the ground from which he was taken. He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.”
Mankind has been in exile ever since. And yet, we hope in the promise that someday God will bring us home to dwell with Him.
In Revelation 5, we see that hope fulfilled. The throne room of heaven is filled with “myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands” of people who have been brought home to live with Jesus. Together they sing a new song:
Revelation 5:9-10 — “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
The fall happened in the past, and our hope is in the future. In-between, in the present, we are in exile — but it does not have to be an exile of darkness. The word of the Lord to Israel, given through Jeremiah, is also a prophetic word given to all mankind. It extends from the beginning of time to the end of this age.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 — “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”
These words were written to the people who chose obedience over defiance. They are the ones who submitted to the yoke of exile and went willingly to become captives in Babylon. They knew they were in for a long exile, but they also chose to believe that God would someday bring them home.
God gave them kind instruction to help them through the time ahead:
Jeremiah 29:4-7 — “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
Those same instructions extend to us today. Our time on this earth can be beautiful if we make it our goal to bring joy to the world around us. We can live peaceful lives, always searching for ways to help the world we live in. As we do, this time of exile becomes more and more beautiful. Joy is multiplied; love abounds; life is made more complete.
Live in a way that brings joy to others, and you will see that there is much beauty to be found, even in exile. Let the love of Christ flow through you, and you will gain a glimpse of the joy that awaits us in eternity.
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
By Henry Van Dyke (1907)
Joyful, joyful, we adore You,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flow'rs before You,
Op'ning to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness;
Drive the dark of doubt away;
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!
All Your works with joy surround You,
Earth and heav'n reflect Your rays,
Stars and angels sing around You,
Center of unbroken praise;
Field and forest, vale and mountain,
Flow'ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!
Always giving and forgiving,
Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living,
Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Loving Father, Christ our Brother,
Let Your light upon us shine;
Teach us how to love each other,
Lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the mighty chorus,
Which the morning stars began;
God's own love is reigning o’er us,
Joining people hand in hand.
Ever singing, march we onward,
Victors in the midst of strife;
Joyful music leads us sunward
In the triumph song of life.
Beautiful post!