The water was cool all around him. The eyes of God pierced through the blackness. There was nothing here, no light and no life. The entire planet lay here in the middle of nowhere, just as black and void as space. He had a vision at that moment, one that spans several millenniums into the future. The spirit of God moved forward, and dark waters swirled all around him. “Let there be light.”
Just a whisper in his voice. Soundwaves created tiny bubbles that exploded through the water away from the booming noise that disrupted the nothingness. The power of his voice created light in each and every minuscule bubble. It was as if an invisible magnetic field pulled them all together until they began to merge one with another. A sphere began to take shape and enlarge. Heat could be felt boiling in the water. The bubble could not withstand the pressure building inside. They each imploded into pure fire. The sun was created at that moment, by the tiny bubble melded to one another until they morphed into a blaze of glory.
The dark water shimmered blue, slicing through the void with fire and light. God looked all around him. “This is good.” Time drew on until the light of the sun faded for a moment. In its place was a softer glow from a second sphere, the moon appeared like a pearl lit up with the power of God’s words. When the sun rose again, one day had passed, and another had begun. God’s plans were far from over.
After the sun was high in the cold water, the fire became hot, so hot. The water did not swirl and bubble; there was no time. It dissolved into a heavy mist. Atom bombs were made with this hazy vision in mind. Heat began cutting the water in half like the sword of God. Half of the water sunk low, running from the rays of the sun. The other half had risen into thick clouds. The sun ceased its attack. This moment is how the heavens came to be.
God looked all around him and nodded his approval. “This too is good.”
The light of the sun faded and gave the moon its time to glow down on the still water below. When the sun rose once again, the third day filled with the power of God, waiting for his will to shape the world. God lifted one hand before him, and slowly swept it to his left. The water obeyed and moved with his arm. The thick mud could be seen at the bottom of the water. It began to harden, rise, and divide. When God released the water, it fell all around the solid ground.
God looked down at the land beneath his feet. “Earth,” he named it. He looked at the water that had broken up until it surrounded each new piece of land. “I will name you ‘Seas.'” He looked at all he had done so far: the sun shining in the air, the moon that signals the coming of night, the clouds beautifying the firmament above, and bright blue waters surrounding pieces of land.
“Life can begin now.”
Again, words uttered so softly boomed across the earth with power. Grass rose from out of the healthy soil. God shaped the Earth into trees, flowers, bushes, seeds, and herbs. In preparation for another day, he made two special trees that would someday serve a purpose. One was called The Tree of Life. The other was called The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. He placed them in the midst of a vast, beautiful garden where a river resided. The earth was shaped according to God’s wise insight of everything to come. Just before night came, He allowed a mist to rise over the land and water all that had been created. Then the moon rose over the land.
Day four waited anxiously for the power of God and his will over the land. Just before the sun rose, He noticed how dark night was with only the moon. Tiny lights bloomed all around in the pitch-black sky. They brightened the heavens until the sun could take their place. Soon though, their purpose would mean so much more. There was more life waiting for God’s word. The coolness of the night air began to warm as the sun spread its rays. God saw the rays of the sun did not reach far enough. He stared up at the bright orb in the sky. It brightened until those rays spanned half of the entire Earth.
God nodded his pleasure. “This too is good.” The stars and the brightened sun marked the fourth day. When that day ended, God walked the earth under the glow of the moon and the stars. On the fifth day, He stepped into the cool water of the seas. His arms extended wide open. The water obeyed his will and began to swirl before Him. Creatures emerged from the bubbles the motion created. Their bodies were smooth and moist from the sea. Scales covered them. With a wave of their fin, they swam through the seas, each choosing a place within the water to make their home. Some were large, and some were small. They each had a temperament separate from the other.
The largest fish was humble with a blowhole in the top of his head. Every so often, it would swim up to the surface of the water and take in some fresh air before sinking back down into the depths of the sea. Other fish prowled the waters with silent intimidation. Their teeth were sharp. Slits on either side of them allowed them to take in oxygen from the very water they swam in. They also had fins to push them through the water searching for the place they belonged. But, not all of the fish had fins. Some had tentacles, long and thick, or thin and wispy. The greatest artist to ever create stepped from the water when the last fish came into being.
God turned his eyes up to the sky and decided to create more. “Birds,” he called forth. “Come.” Just like that, creatures covered in feathers filled the heavens. They had two wings to soar through the sky. Some in flocks and others by their self each flew away to choose their home on the land God created. They too were as different as the fish in the seas. They were unique in size, colors, and temperament. The birds had a language all their own, and they spoke to one another. There were feathered creatures that could soar amidst the clouds for hours. Then there were others that could fly but a brief moment before they walked on their tiny feet on the ground. But, they were all beautiful, because they were made by the power of the Lord Almighty. By the time God was done, the moon had risen and the fifth day had come to an end.
On the morning of the sixth day, God’s angels came to Earth to see all that he had created. They saw the animals on land before going to the bank of one river to glimpse some of the fish. A creature approached them from behind. It was covered in thick black fur. A low growl came from his throat. Fangs could be seen before it sensed an unimaginable level of power. The predatory creature humbled himself before God and the angels. It purred as they stroked his shiny black fur.
“Who will care for these animals?” one angel asked God. “Who shall till the soil and take care of the vegetation?”
God knelt down at the water’s edge and scooped up a handful of mud. “Man will.” He looked at the angels behind him. “Come. We will make man in our own image. You will all be my children.”
That day, God and the angels shaped a man looking the same as them, but without the wings on the backs of the angels. They meticulously created a heart, lungs, liver, bones, and much more. Each part served a purpose that would help the man to live. They finished late in the afternoon. God observed what would be the body of the man. Upon His approval, he bent down over the man and breathed into his nostrils. One breath went deep into the man’s nose, down his throat, and into his chest. His lungs filled with oxygen the very moment the wet soil became flesh and bones. He took a large gasp of air and opened his eyes wide.
The man saw several figures standing above him, and he hurried to his feet before backing away. “Who…?” Eyes stretched open, and he knew God instantly. The man dropped down to his knees and bowed low to the ground.
“Rise, Adam.”
‘Adam?’ the man thought. He looked up and saw God’s eyes on him. Adam instantly rose to his feet in obedience.
“Come with me.” God left the angels at the bank of the river and walked past Adam. Catching on, Adam followed behind him. God took Adam to the garden he had created on the fifth day. The two of them walked around so Adam could see what would be his home. They walked to the two trees at the center of the garden, each imbued with the power God placed in them.
He turned to Adam. “You may eat of everything here in the Garden of Eden. The herbs, the vegetables, the fruit you can eat.” God pointed to the tree before them. “This here is The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. You may not eat the fruit thereof. For on the day you do, surely you will die.”
Adam looked up at the tree. He could see the sun through its leaves. Bright red fruit hung from the branches. They looked delicious; but, God had spoken. Adam turned to the Lord and bowed his head. “Yes, my Lord.”
That moment marked another one of God’s greatest creations, free will. For although he had given the command, He left the choice of obeying up to Adam. He smiled pleasantly. “Today, you will name all of the beasts of the field.” He turned and led Adam to the edge of the garden. The animals felt the will of God and approached the Garden of Eden. One by one, Adam obediently named them.
Initially, Adam was excited. Each animal was fascinating. There was a small animal whose hind legs were longer than its hands. It had a tiny pink nose with whiskers on either side of his mouth. The thick white fur was soft to the touch. He named this small creature ‘rabbit.’ But, as Adam continued with the sun beating down on him, the hours began to pass slower and slower. It wasn’t that he was ungrateful for the opportunity to make a name for each animal that would always remain. How could he not be pleased God chose him for this gift?
There were odd creatures he classed as dinosaurs before giving each a name, like a tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, and so on. There were large cats he named black panther, cheetah, lion. Then there were small animals he named ferret, beaver, and mole. The job of naming the animals continued as thousands came to him. But, a feeling of warmth was missing when he was with the animals. They did not share the same language.
It was late in the evening when he finished. Adam walked over to where God had just called the last animal over for a name, and then instruct the beast to multiply and fill the Earth. The animals all seemed to understand his words. He was their Lord also.
Adam waited beside God until the last animal walked away. “Lord,” he began. “I’m lonely.”
God didn’t appear surprised in the least. “I will make you a help meet as your companion.” God led Adam underneath an oak tree where the grass was soft. “Lay down, Adam.”
God waited while Adam did as he said. He used His endless power to place him under a deep sleep. He made an incision on Adam’s left side to remove one rib. After closing the opening, God laid the rib on the grass a few feet from where Adam lay sleeping.
Red flesh covered the rib. Veins wrapped around its contours. The small rib began to grow and take on a different shape. It resembled Adam, but had curves, was softer, and long hair flowed down its back. God left her to take care of Adam. He looked up at the moon in the sky. Day six was practically at an end. God left the mate he created for Adam to keep watch until he woke from his surgery. Adam opened his eyes and was immediately filled with awe and gratitude. He called her woman because she came to exist from the rib removed from his body. She lay beside him, and they slept until the next day.
God woke on the seventh day to the sounds of birds chirping, the warm touch of the sun’s rays, the sight of bees sipping nectar from a small yellow flower, and Adam and Eve laughing as they ate berries from a bush. “This shall be the Sabbath day. May humankind always keep it holy, the day in which we rest.”
God closed his eyes and relaxed under the comfort of the sun. All was well for a time. Adam was no longer lonely. He and Eve learned the meaning of love very quickly. This new emotion made every day a happy experience. However, God had given Adam and Eve the freedom to make choices for themselves. Unfortunately, they did not always choose right. They soon discovered that for every decision made, there was always one or more consequences. They made a decision that reverberated throughout time, one that cost them the very sight of God’s grace.
