And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3:22-24

God's love was severe in putting them out, or so fallen man would think. But if God would save His creation from their sin, He must do no less.

Yet ever since, the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve have sought to gain  access back into the garden. The whole world of sinful experiences; mind altering drugs, sexual sin, euphoric false religion, the occult, all examples of attempts to recreate the conditions of the garden. Fallen man will smash through the barriers, creating their own godless version of the garden. Pagans and humanists alike lust either for the good old days that once were, or the "golden age" that is just around the corner.

In Psalms 2 we are warned that the world's masses are being prepared for the arrival of an ultimate "messiah" to inaugurate a new godless garden - Eden.

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. Psalm 2:1-3

God drove Adam and Eve from the garden, there will never be a return to Eden. God's plan for man is not backward looking, but forward moving.

No, we will never recover "paradise lost" ~ but as pilgrims we look forward to the arrival of the "city whose Builder and Maker is God."

Remember, this world is not our home, we're just passing through, so don't get too comfortable.

taken from an article by Pastor Bill Randles