Eden was the garden where Adam and Eve lived before sin entered the world. It was a perfect paradise. God and man walked together in this garden. The relationship between God and man was perfect. The world was without sin or brokenness. That is, until one day when Adam and Eve being tempted by Satan, disobeyed God. They sought their own desires above God's commands, allowing sin to enter into the hearts of man. God is perfect and cannot be in the presence of sin. When sin entered the hearts of man, it put a separation between man and God. Man was cast out of this paradise called Eden, and ever since then, God has been providing a way into an even better paradise: Zion.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel." Hebrews 12:22-24
In the Old Testament, Zion is another word for the land if Israel. It symbolizes God's faithfulness in providing and sustaining this land for the Israelites, but in the New Testament, Zion is used to describe the New Jerusalem- Heaven. The Bible has a beautiful way of foreshadowing things to come. It's common knowledge for anyone who reads the Bible to see how the Old Testament points to Jesus, but more than that, the Old Testament points to the completion of God's redemptive plan, with Jesus as the cornerstone on which the plan is built.
"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD , Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. " Isaiah 28:16
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone ; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22
Every human is broken in some way. It doesn't take much self-evaluation to see that something isn't right. Depression, sickness, greed, hate, fear and lust are just a few of the consequences of sin that every human is bound to experience at some point. These burdens can feel far too heavy to carry on our own.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
Luckily, we don't have to. Man allowed sin into the world, but ever since then God has been on a mission to redeem. He sent His only son, Jesus, into the world to walk in our shoes. Jesus experienced grief, temptation (though He never sinned), pain, and loneliness. Jesus was God in human flesh. At the age of 33 He was brutally beaten and crucified to take the punishment for our sins, but three days later, at the break of dawn, Jesus came back to life. He died for our sins, and rose to bring us salvation.
"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. " Romans 10:9-10,13
Call out to Him. Call out to Him from your pit of depression. Call out to Him from that hospital bed. Call out to Him for satisfaction this world can never offer. Call out to Him when the hate of this world seems too dark. Call out to Him when fear is crippling your life. Call out to Him when the guilt of lust outweighs that brief moment of pleasure. He is standing there with open arms, ready to redeem. Ready to bring you into Zion.
There is more to life than simply living day by day, hopeless in brokenness. As a christian, you will still experience the consequences of sin in this world, but you won't have to face them alone. You will have hope. He will be with you when you walk through the valley of the shadow of death.
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."John 16:33
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
He is a God of redemption. He desires your heart. From Eden to Zion He is working redemption.
"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." Romans 5:17-19