Life in God’s Garden: Part 2

It was early spring when my husband and I visited a pastor friend’s church based on an encounter we had with his wife previous to that Sunday. 

After the service we waited for the opportunity to talk with our friends. Kary shared with us how she was handling some of her health issues (like headaches) with natural oils.  I have been aware of the power of oils for healing through the Bible and my sister, who is a doctor in wellness and makes many of her own products.   

So when my lady friend described what she was using I explained how my husband was experiencing some side effects of the medications he is taking.  Leaving hubby in the care of the pastor, together Kary and I wondered if any of the oils she was using in particular would be effective for his ailments.  “Why not?” I thought. 

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Smell Go Away – One Year 

There was a list of things she was using and from past experience I knew how potent they were, especially on the aromatic side. 

Making light of one of Kary’s suggestions in using frankincense I said,

       “How can you rub that on your head?  The smell alone gives me a headache and you can’t get the stuff off your hands.”   

We learned that long ago when I had the bright idea of making scented sachets for the women at our church ladies banquet.  It was weeks (not a year) before the sanctuary smell was back to the norm (you know, stale carpet odor), because I forgot to remove the leftovers from the side cabinet near the entrance!  The place smelled great, but the men complained they left smelling a bit too sweet for their comfort. 

Besides, I carry it with me in a double sealed pouch for laying hands on the sick as the Bible says we are to do in James, so I can verify that the smell doesn't go away quickly. 

“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”  (James 5:14-15 NKJV) 

Amazing Grace How Sweet the Smell? 

Kary assured me that her mixtures would be fine and vowed to get them to us the coming week.  Hubby of course had little to say in the matter, but was agreeable in collecting the gift when she was ready. 

Before I sat down to write this I retrieved the bottles that now live in a drawer away from things we use daily. The fragrances seep through the plastic zip bag and fill the air without opening the package. 

 

A few of the essential oils are lemon (citrus limonum), orange and sweet almond oil.  They all smell so wonderful, but the strong frankincense blend has permeated the labels even though they are all sealed. 

How amazing is the smell of grace and favor of God, which remains through the healing gift of plants that made their debut over 6,000 years ago?  We’ve barely tapped into the blessing of healing through the seeds Adam planted for future generations. 

I have to admit, I had forgotten about the oils until my morning study time researching the blessings that came through the Garden of Eden’s herbs and trees.  That was about five months ago.

The day we received the baggie full of goodness my husband simply stuffed it in the drawer to keep it away from the pets.  I rarely use that drawer; somehow it got shoved off to one side and overlooked. 

Seems we both forgot to take advantage of the favor Kary showed in sharing these expensive oils with us.  Refreshing my senses with the healing balms, wisdom dictates I’ll have to rectify this situation. 

“Oh, honey … Guess what I found …” No doubt vivid memories of the sanctuary will emerge rather quickly! 

Ten Blessings of Eden 

So far we’ve taken note of what favor was waiting for man upon entrance to God’s garden.     This week we’ll look at the sixth blessing of Eden which has to do with healing (you probably saw that coming). It's a huge revelation of how favored we really are by God. 

If you didn’t read the first five blessings you can here.

 

Sixth Blessing – Man and animal could live healed and forever in God’s place.  God provided every kind of tree that would serve any need.  Let me address the physical aspects through the use of plants.

 

When the first living creatures were brought into God’s Garden everything that pertained to life, living and happiness was abundant.  The riches of kings were at their disposal giving supernatural provision to the natural being.   

There are too many things to explain in a short time, but making mention of frankincense and myrrh might stir your interests. You ask how do I know they were part of the garden … God said so Himself. 

“And God said, ‘See (Adam), I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.” (Genesis 1:29 NKJV) 

Anything that we have access to in this world, except the two specificly identified trees in the Garden of Eden referred to as the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, are still ours to use freely.  Original seeds of every plant/tree in Eden were given to Adam for reproduction into the world. 

In the beginning (before the fall of man through sin) there were no thorns or thistles on any plant life, including these aromatics.  They looked different, but the purpose was the same. 

 

The word frankincense literally means “pure incense” and is actually a resin substance collected from the Boswellia tree family.  Often times it is referred to as milky white “pearls of the desert” because of how it hardens as it flows out of the tree. 

Depending on what part of the plant was used, it provided a vast number of purposes for healing (like an anti-inflammatory, arthritis, antibacterial or cancer fighting agents) as well as sweet smelling enjoyment.  It could be eaten, chewed like gum, placed on the skin or burnt as incense.   

God’s Garden – His Temple 

Understanding how herb life healed the body, what does it have to do with the spirit or soul? 

In the Garden of Eden and the temple of God, fragrances represented or symbolized certain things.  Sweet myrrh oil was the “sacrament” representing wisdom and the resurrection of Jesus not His death. 

Refusing it at the cross wasn’t so he would endure pain and suffering, but to deny the sting of death, conquering the grave.

 

 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”  (1  Corinthians 15:55 NKJV) 

The prophet Isaiah spoke of this and Jesus quoted it in the temple referring to Himself as the Anointed One (in oils). 

“There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD ." (Isaiah 11:1-2 NKJV) 

Scripture continues with one word being incorrectly written in some translations. 

“His delight is in the fear of the LORD and He shall not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears.” (Isaiah 11:3 NKJV)   

The word “delight” actually in this passage is the Hebrew word “fragrance.” Wisdom is the fragrance that gives revelation of who God is and the power of the Anointing.  Knowing this it helps us understand what Paul meant in his letter to the Corinthians. 

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance [river of wisdom] of His knowledge [flowing] in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV emphasis mine)  

The Oil Blessing 

Part of the favor blessing of God was living in His garden, which is where the Anointing of oil began in Eden with Adam.  As joint heirs with Christ (which means the Anointed One), we carry (possess) the anointed perfume through the Holy Spirit that lives in us.   

Having the wisdom from God through anointing, no harm was to come to man or animal, because the earth would be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea (Isaiah 11:9).  This is how Adam would care for God’s garden – through worship and fellowship with his Creator he would gain wisdom in knowing what to use, when and where to plant. 

We don’t think of him in this light or being a wise soul based on his poor decision, but Adam was the first and original High Priest in the Temple of God we know as the Garden of Eden.  At the time he was “put” in the garden, there was no sin, so he was qualified for the job.   

Adam was to till, keep, protect and guard it. (Genesis 2:15) Can you see why God was ticked off (in a matter of speaking) with him when he was disobedient of the “House” rules? 

To “till and keep it” are temple words; till – liturgy refers to worship in a religious ceremony, and keep is to – protect, guard, preserve from harm.  So if you ever wondered what there was to do in the Garden when no weeds grew and no bugs or pests destroyed anything, now you know. 

As the High Priest, Adam was in service of God to cleanse, maintain and preserve the garden by sacrificing unto His Creator with oils not blood.  Since no one had sinned there was no need of a blood sacrifice.

 

Contrary to what some may believe, Adam wasn’t always in the garden, but when he was he entered the Holy of Holies to stand in the presence of God. When he was given the command to "reproduce" the term didn't void him of responsibilities meaning to spend his life sporting with his mate 24/7.

 

The act of cleansing of the temple continued and was performed by Jesus during Holy Week.  Where God chose to spend time with man was Holy and still is.  How we’ve forgotten that and fail to cleanse the temple of our hearts where the Holy Spirit lives.

Jesus taught and said to them,  

“Is it not written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and scribes heard it and sought a way to destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. (Mark 11.17-18) 

Everything that happens in this world revolves around who Jesus Christ is: God’s Son, the Anointed One who heals physically, emotionally and spiritually.  These are a few benefits of Life in God’s Garden; we cannot forget that if we are to walk in His favor. 

“Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,

Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies (favor).  

 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." (Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV) 

The Way, the Truth, and the Life 

All things in the Garden of Eden had a specific purpose, especially the plant life that filled the environment for our living and healing. Even dying needs were factored in because GOD knew man would have to be redeemed back to Him. 

 

Jesus said that He is the only way to the Heavenly Father, and unless a man/woman is born again they will never see the new Garden of Eden.  The fellowship that was once enjoyed in God's sanctuary will remain closed to unbelief.  That would be heartbreaking after learning how much God did just to restore fellowship with His creation(s).

 

Relationships began in Eden’s Garden and will be healed and restored there once more.  Those who believe in Jesus and God’s Word as truth will one day get to live what only the first “man/woman” experienced.  You can learn more about that on this page.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” 

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14:1-6 NKJV) 

Frankincense and myrrh (as other plants for healing) play a big part in history beginning in the Garden of Eden, throughout the ministry in the temple, at the cross of Jesus, in the life we live here on earth and finally in Heaven as recorded in Revelation 5:8. 

“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” (Revelation 5:8 ESV) 

These are only two of the specialty plants that were abundant in the garden.  Have they pricked your heart in any way? 

Think on This Challenge:  

Why did Jesus receive Frankincense and Myrrh at His birth? 

Essential oils have always been the rage in the upper class or elite communities, even Judas Iscariot the disciple of Jesus verified that point by showing his disapproval of the “misuse” of it before the Lord was crucified. 

 

Not to burst anyone's bubble, but anointing oils are to be used and enjoyed by everyone because they are Garden favored blessing gifts courtesy of our Savior personally.

The two scents I discussed are quite prominent in scriptures and there was a reason I focused mainly on them.  Now that you know a little more about their beginning, for our think challenge can you connect what they had to do with the birth of Christ?  When you do, don’t forget about the gold! 

In the meantime I best remind hubby about those healing oils.

 

Psalm 103:1-6 "Bless the LORD, O My Soul" (Esther Mui) 

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Until next time, God’s favor can smell pretty amazing! 

“Forget not all my healing benefits blessings.”

Jesus Christ 

*Unless noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy. 

Note: Emphasis is given in some scriptures to show clarity or understanding and is not to take away from the inspirited Word of God. 

Disclaimer: Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness. 

What’s New This Week: Click on the photo or link.

Anointing Oils in Ornamental Glass Box with Hinged Lid

Pure oil from the Holy Land: Frankincense, Myrrh, Rose of Sharon

Shaded stained glass framed box.

 

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