In the garden, Adam and Eve, the parents of all nations, were in the presence of God. God commanded them to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it as God’s image bearers (Gen 1:28). Although they chose to disobey God by eating from the forbidden tree. Shalom and fellowship were broken. They experienced death and shame and were sent out from the garden.
God shows his grace in the garden and kicks off the restoration project. He graciously covered their shame by providing animal skins. Providing animal skins required blood to be shed. Yet, the blood of an animal wasn’t sufficient to restore them wholly. God gives a glimpse of his restoration plan in Genesis 3:15. One is coming to strike Satan’s head.
The Bible is one complete narrative of God restoring everything lost in the garden. The watershed moment in this restoration project of all the earth and all the nations is the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus took on shame and death to restore shalom and fellowship. Jesus shed holy blood as a perfect and final sacrifice. The resurrection is the crushing blow to the head of Satan. The grip of Satan is broken when people hear and put their faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
So what about the nations? The restoration project isn’t complete until a representation of every nation, tongue, and tribe is restored (Matt 24:14, Rev 5:9, Rev 7:9). Jesus has accomplished everything to restore every nation. This is good news! Although, many nations have yet to hear this good news. Without the opportunity to hear about the resurrection, they remain captive in sin, shame, and eternal death. Are we willing to be heralds of the resurrection and offer the message of restoration to the Nations?
It started in a garden with two people. It ends in a city with a multitude of every nation, language, and tribe gathered in the presence of God.