In the beginning…11d. Earth Overlook: Day Six

Just then an angel interrupted, “What’s God doing now?”

Jesus returned his focus to Eden and immediately understood. He saw that his Father and the man were standing together with their backs to the river. One of every animal was lined up and seemed to parade past the duo. God would stretch out his hand indicating the animal. The man would say something; then the next animal would come up for inspection. “They’re inspecting all the animals. Listen!” Jesus hushed the curious host.

All became silent and strained to hear. “And what about this one, Adam?”

The man responded, “Elephant.”

“Good,” God affirmed, nodding and motioning for the elephant to move on and the small, slender creature with lots of tiny legs to come before them. “And this next one?”

“How about ‘centipede’?” Adam suggested.

“Fine,” God said. The routine repeated itself time and again before any of the angels could find an astonished voice.

It was Gabriel who spoke first. “God is having the man – what did he call him? Adam? Give names to all the animals.”

Jesus pronounced, “That’s right, Gabe. Remember when we were in my drawing room we discussed that rather than our naming them, God and I had decided that man should have that privilege. After all, he will be living with them on the Earth for a long time.”

“Seems only fitting,” Michael agreed.

“How long is all this going to take,” Allen inquired. “The choir needs to rehearse.”

“At the rate they are passing by, and with the number of different species that I estimate are in that line,” Gabriel surmised, “I’d say about 27,345 minutes more.”

“What are minutes?” someone in the middle of the multitude asked.

“A minute is about sixty seconds; and a second is, well, a second is…” Gabriel paused perplexed.

“Those are amounts of time that mankind will use to reckon his day,” Jesus explained. “There are lots of differences between man and us. That’s part of what makes this all so interesting. The passing of time means nothing to us here in heaven; but it will control man and his doings and comings and goings like no other single factor. That’s why the Earth, moon, and sun are set up like they are with the Earth making a revolution or trip around the sun in a year.”

Gabriel jumped in, “That’s approximately every 365.25 days.”

“That’s right, Gabe,” Jesus continued. “The Earth also will rotate on its axis every 24 hours with each hour being 60 minutes and so on.”

“And the moon?” interjected Michael.

“The moon will revolve around the Earth reflecting the sun’s light and controlling the oceans’ tides once in about 28 days. Man will call that period of time a month,” Jesus concluded the discourse all about Earth time.

“Jesus,” Allen asked, “what was it God called the man?”

“Adam,” Michael interposed. “God called him Adam. Isn’t that right, Jesus?”

“That’s right, Michael,” Jesus answered. “The first man’s name is Adam. In the language man will develop someday, that’s what man means: Adam.”

“Good name,” affirmed several angels, practically in unison.

“Hummph!” could be heard from Lucifer’s mob.

All quieted as God spoke again, “Adam, I have planted many trees and shrubs in this garden. They are here for your pleasure and enjoyment. Most are also good for food. Enjoy your life here. I have also planted two unique trees just over there,” he pointed across the river, “that are very special. One is the Tree of Life and the other is the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Tree of Life will supply you with a different type of delicious fruit every month. The leaves of that tree are also good for healing from all types of ailments you may feel in the future.”

Adam interrupted, “May I eat of every tree in the garden?”

God continued, “No, Adam, you are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but one. You must not eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, for in the day that you eat of its fruit, you will surely die.”

“Interesting, very interesting,” Lucifer muttered under his breath. “I give man about three days.”

“Did you say something, Boss?” one of his group inquired.

“No, Anak,” Lucifer responded softly, “just talking to myself,” he continued with the silent thought, “and planning – planning for our future victories.” Lucifer didn’t realize at the time that he had overestimated man’s ability to control his self-will by nearly two full days.

[to be continued]