The Lord God planted a Garden

Celebration of Life

Opening prayer

Genesis 2:8–9 “Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food.

I thought that this verse would be significant as we remember Tom’s life. His life work was as a gardener. working with plants and soil. Getting his hands dirty, but bringing beauty for his family and their customers to see.

Another passage of scripture that is appropriate is found in Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Every gardener knows that their is a season for every plant and the action that must be preformed for propagation. There is a time to plant seeds and a time to transfer cutting. A time to fertilize and cultivate. A time to weed and a time to water. One of the mysteries of life is that in order for a plant to grow the seed must die and be placed in the soil. Only in the death of the seed can a new plant grow.

We have just passed the Easter season when we remember that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, but was resurrected. His victory over death has prepared the way for us to have victory over death as well. When we die our physical bodies are buried, but our soul continues to live on. Those who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will receive new heavenly bodies that will not age or be corrupted by sickness or infirmity.

In the gospel of John we read Jesus’ words to his disciples; John 14:1–6“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

What a promise God has prepared a place for us so that we might spend eternity with Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Rome. Romans 8:35–39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Nothing can separate us, neither death nor life, nor anything in all creation. We mourn today, but have hope of being reunited in the future. We can receive comfort from Jesus’ words in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” A peace that only Jesus can give.

Lord’s Prayer Hymn amazing Grace

Benediction May the peace of Jesus that passes all understanding, comfort you and give you peace today and forevermore. Amen