God’s Garden 上帝的花园
Dexu Xia
He has given us new birth into a living hope. 1 Peter 1:3
A reminder of the beauty and brevity of life grows outside my front door. Last spring, my wife planted moonflower vines, so named because of their large and round white blooms that resemble a full moon. Each flower opens for one night and then withers in the bright sun the following morning, never to bloom again. But the plant is prolific, and every evening presents a fresh parade of flowers. We love watching it as we come and go each day, wondering what new beauty will greet us when we return.
These fragile flowers call to mind a vital truth from Scripture. The apostle Peter, recalling the words of the prophet Isaiah, wrote, “You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, ‘All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall’ ” (1 Peter 1:23–24). But he assures us that God keeps His promises forever! (v. 25).
Like flowers in a garden, our lives on earth are short when compared with eternity. But God has spoken beauty into our brevity. Through the good news of Jesus, we make a fresh beginning with God and trust His promise of unlimited life in His loving presence. When Earth’s sun and moon are but a memory, we will praise Him still.
By: James Banks
What do you most look forward to about eternity with God? Which of His promises are your favorites?
Beautiful Savior, I praise You for the gift of my salvation. Your love lasts forever, and I love You for it.
[父上帝]重生了我们，叫我们有活泼的盼望。—彼得前书1章3节
我家花园里的花朵，提醒了我生命的美丽和短暂。去年春天，我的妻子在庭院里种下了月光花。这植物之所以称为月光花，是因为其花朵洁白、又大又圆，外型像极了满月。每一朵月光花只绽放一个晚上，隔天一早就会在明亮的阳光下凋谢，再也不会开花。但是，一株月光花有许多花苞，所以每天晚上都有花朵盛开，美不胜收。我们每天进出家门时，都喜欢停下脚步看看这些花，好奇下一次会看见怎样的美景。
这些脆弱的花朵让我想到圣经中的一个重要真理。使徒彼得引用先知以赛亚的话，写道：“你们蒙了重生，不是由于能坏的种子，乃是由于不能坏的种子，是藉着上帝活泼常存的道。因为：‘凡有血气的，尽都如草，他的美荣都像草上的花。草必枯干，花必凋谢’”（彼得前书1章23-24节）。不过，他也向我们保证，上帝必会持守祂的应许，直到永远！（25节）
与永恒相比，我们在世上的生命就像花园里的花朵，极其短暂，但上帝仍为这转瞬即逝的生命创造诸般美好。藉着耶稣基督的福音，我们能够与上帝重新和好，并且祂应许我们会有永恒的生命，可以永远与祂同住，活在祂爱的同在中。当地上的日月都成追忆，我们依然赞美祂。
作者： 庞雅各
你能与上帝永远同住，你最期待的是什么呢？你最珍爱祂的哪些应许？
美好的救主，我赞美祢，因祢赐我恩典、拯救我。
主啊，我爱祢，因祢的慈爱永远长存。