The Bible is Like a Botanical Garden

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Story by Randy Grathen.

I ‘ve been told that when you read the bible the goal isn’t to see how fast you can get through it. Some people subscribe to the “read-the-bible-in-a-year” program, basically a foot race to the Revelation finish line. Others, believe we are reading for depth, not distance. This isn’t supposed to be a race, but a stroll through the Biblical Garden. Some people say they’ve read the bible cover-to-cover once, so there is no need to read it again. That is like entering the garden and following the foot path to the nearest exit, and heading out the door. When asked what they saw, their answer is, some plants, a few trees and a fountain. Truth is, they never really saw the garden at all.

I’ve often wondered how someone can “dwell” on a single passage of scripture for hours much less days until God gave me the image of the Garden. In Springtime everything is some variation on the color green. Many plants are indistinguishable from another. But, if you go back again, you’ll begin to notice things that you hadn’t seen the first time. Take flowers for example. If you come back to the same spot, the plant reveals more of itself to you as it grows. What was once just a green “something” now has buds, then slowly they begin to open revealing a vividly colored flower. You wouldn’t have seen that had you only visited once. There is a whole biblical garden to explore that could keep you busy for a lifetime finding all its hidden treasures and beauty you never considered before.

Take time to stroll through the garden of His word. Linger at each plant and tree. Wait for it to reveal itself to you.