What does paradise mean to you? Many people dream of winning the lottery and enjoying life with millions of dollars in the bank. No more work to keep you from doing what you want when you want. Economic freedom which would mean that you wouldn't have to listen to anyone. Rich people get to do what they want and answer to no one. Would that be paradise?
Christians have the benefit of knowing what exactly paradise is and what it was meant to be. In Genesis 2 Moses described God's design of paradise: the Garden of Eden.
Working Paradise. On a tough day at work in our sinful world, it's not hard to imagine that paradise would mean no job to be done. We can see Adam sitting around eating grapes and relaxing. That is not in God's plan. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it." Before sin entered the world, man was intended to have a job. Whether you are 20 or 80, work is part of our service to God. Paul made this point clearly in Collossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Isn't that the key, any job can be satisfying and meaningful if we do it not for men but for God.
For those who are still in the workforce, that means that you should treat your job as being done for the Lord. When I go to work as a lawyer, I need to think about doing my job the best I can, not to bring glory to myself, but to bring glory to God. Retired Christians should still be at work. Many people see retirement as the time that they can focus on pleasing themselves. That is not what God has in mind for us. Retirement is a time when Christians can work in the church or performing good deeds which bring glory to God.
Obedient Paradise. It is natural to think that it would be paradise to live without any rules. We tend to think that if we only got to do whatever we wanted, we'd be happy. Remember, God made us and knows what is best for us. From the very beginning we had rules imposed by God for our good. "The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; buy you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." All of God's rules are for our benefit and, if our attitude is right, they are not burdensome. I John 5:1-4. God's rules also bring us peace. Psalms 119:165. Why wouldn't we want to do the things that God knows are best for us.
There you have it. Paradise as God planned it includes work and following the rules. Enjoy!
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