In the beginning…6. Choir Room and Palace

Choir Room

Allen’s patience was wearing thin, since three days before his choir had welcomed its newest member. At first, he had greeted Lucifer warmly, especially after he heard the newest angel sing. He had a lovely, resonant baritone voice. That wasn’t the problem.

From the first, Lucifer was a trouble maker. When he wasn’t asking why he couldn’t sing a solo, he was telling tall tales of how he’d been wandering in a spectacular garden on Earth. He’d been tending all the vegetation: trees, plants, shrubs, and flowers. He was constantly reminding all the angels of what they were all too aware ever since God had brought the newcomer to choir practice three days before and introduced Lucifer to the choir with the exhortation to, “Make him feel at home.”

They had tried; how they had tried! It wasn’t Lucifer’s looks or his fancy robe or even his baritone voice. Those they could’ve tolerated, especially after the Father’s request. It was the arrogant attitude and boastful spirit which just didn’t fit in at all, particularly when they were struggling hard to prepare the gala for God. Lucifer was truly a “holier than thou” angel. Yet, there was something likeable and even charismatic about him. Allen noticed that several of the group, including Dagon and his followers, were actually making friends and spending spare time with Lucifer. The choir leader had a foreboding of not-so-good times to come. His premonition was to prove prophetic.

On the day Jesus finally showed up for rehearsal, the practice went fairly well, although Jesus seemed somewhat preoccupied, and Lucifer kept glancing at him with a smirk of contempt which seemed to say, “You just wait…”

Palace

Following that rehearsal, Jesus was able to complete his to-do list for the next events in creation; but not before he sought out his father’s assistance for a major project.

“Dad,” Jesus queried one day, “would you help me; I can’t seem to get one part of the plan right.”

God offered Jesus his complete attention as he instructed, “Tell me what’s baffling you, Son.”

“It’s about that light fading into dark and day and night stuff,” Jesus stated impatiently.

“What about it?” His father asked.

“Well, I’ve got this idea for a really large sphere of light to cause the daytime on one side of the Earth while a smaller globe reflects light onto the dark side. Then I want lots of smaller lights all over the space that will glimmer and twinkle; but I can’t quite figure out how to make it all come together and work naturally. You know, we had talked in the beginning about how man and his curiosity needed to be considered as we make this world,” Jesus explained his dilemma at some length.

“I know, Son. We want man not only to have a mind and soul, but also the intense drive to discover, invent, and explain all that we put around him,” the Father added thoughtfully.

“Exactly,” Jesus continued. “So how do we make it all logical and natural and explainable in man-mind terms?”

“I think you’ve got all the right ideas, Son. Let me make some suggestions,” God offered.

“Fire away, Dad!” Jesus waited enthusiastically.

“First,” God began, “make that large light-sphere really hot, so it will both brighten and heat Earth.”

“Won’t that kind of temperature hurt man?” Jesus inquired.

“Very astute, Son. It would unless, of course, you place it a long distance from Earth,” God explained.

“Of course!” Jesus rejoined. “That space we created is really huge. We could set the sun… Oh, by the way Father, that’s what I call the large sphere of light, the sun.”

“Outstanding!” exclaimed the Father.

Jesus’ mathematical calculations kicked into overdrive, “We could place it about 93 million miles away at just the right spot so the heat and light would be perfect.”

“Sounds good,” agreed the Father. “Then instead of the light or sun fading to cause day to become night, you could have the Earth rotate.”

“What’s rotate?” Jesus was puzzled for a moment inquiring before even thinking to use his omniscience.

“You don’t even have to ask, Jesus; use your omniscience like I taught you,” God waited

“Right. We’ll make the Earth spin around every few hours,” Jesus reflected; then he inquired, “What else?”

“That reflective light…” the Father hesitated.

“I call it the moon, Dad,” interjected Jesus.

“That moon could be placed at just the right spot from the Earth to shine on parts of it at night…reflecting just enough of the sun’s light to be soothing to mankind,” God continued.

“And since the moon wouldn’t give off any heat, nights would be cooler than days,” Jesus added. “And the moon could also rotate while it revolves around the Earth.”

“That’s another good idea,” the Father approved.

“The Earth could revolve around the sun. What about all the smaller lights?” Jesus again sought God’s expertise.

“Do you have a name for them,” God inquired.

“Not yet,” Jesus replied.

“How about stars!” God suggested.

“Sounds good to me,” Jesus agreed.

“You could make them like the sun and place them a lot farther away from Earth with other earth’s and moons.”

Jesus interrupted, “Wow! That’s amazing. Gotta go, Dad!”

“What’s the hurry, Son?” God shouted after his already exiting son.

“I’ve got lots of calculations to make,” Jesus sputtered hurriedly.

“Why not just use your omniscience?” the Father asked.

“It’s more fun if I plan it the way man will someday discover and figure it out. Is that all right, Dad?” From the doorway Jesus looked back at his Father seeking affirmation much as millions of expectant children would yearn for their father’s approval in the centuries to come on Earth.

God smiled, “Sure, Son. Have it your way.”

“Thanks. I want to make the fourth day truly special,” Jesus concluded.

“I know it will be, Son,” God assured him.

Just as Jesus started to stroll thoughtfully away, he snapped his fingers and turned again toward God. God’s knowing look greeted his Son, “Was there something else, Jesus?”

“Yes, Father,” Jesus stammered briefly, then continued, “I know you told me about Lucifer and all, but he really doesn’t seem to fit in here.”

“Don’t concern yourself, my Son,” God encouraged. “It’s all part of the plan – the big picture. Besides, Lucifer won’t be here long. Trust me.” Jesus looked down at his feet. “Was there anything else, Son?” God inquired.

“No. Thanks, Dad,” Jesus started to turn resignedly. “I guess I’d better get back to work. Goodbye, Father.”

“Goodbye, Son; see you tomorrow?” God added as an afterthought.

“See you tomorrow,” Jesus walked reflectively out the door of the throne room.

God turned to the hitherto unnoticed other being in the room. He said quietly, “I wish I could tell Jesus everything.”

“You will, when the time is right,” the being cautioned. “Use the patience you’re always telling your Son and the angels to exhibit. Remember, good things come to those who wait.”

“Thanks for your comforting presence,” God acknowledged.

“That’s what I’m here for,” graciously stated the Holy Spirit.

[to be continued]