Peter: Master, what do you think Adam and Eve might have discovered if they had ventured beyond the boundaries of the Garden of Eden?
Jesus: Peter, beyond the garden lay the world that God created, a place both beautiful and challenging. While the garden was a paradise, the land outside required labor and effort to cultivate.
Andrew: So, it was a place where they would have to work the land, similar to how we fish and farm?
Jesus: Yes, Andrew. The ground outside the garden was not like the fertile soil of Eden. It required toil and sweat to bring forth food. This was part of the consequence of their disobedience.
John: But beyond the physical challenges, what else might they have encountered, Lord?
Jesus: They would have encountered the reality of life without the constant, immediate presence of God that they had in the garden. There, they would need to seek Him with their whole hearts, and through that seeking, they would learn and grow in ways they could not have within Eden.
Thomas: Master, do you mean that their journey beyond the garden was also a spiritual one?
Jesus: Indeed, Thomas. Leaving Eden marked the beginning of humanity’s journey to understand their need for God, to seek His presence and to learn to walk by faith. Though they lost the immediate fellowship they once had, God did not abandon them but provided a way for them to return to Him.
Philip: So, the hardships they faced were also opportunities to grow closer to God?
Jesus: Precisely, Philip. In the midst of struggle and hardship, there is always the opportunity to find God, to rely on Him, and to grow in faith and trust. This is a lesson for all of humanity, even for you, my disciples.
