Isn’t the Word so refreshing? Every time you read it, you gain new insight. Even reading Genesis 1, a story I’ve heard countless times since I was a sweet little girl. Especially Genesis. Are you kidding me?
The story of Creation and Eden was unfolding like a fairy tale in my head last night, every whimsical and fantastical thought made my senses come alive as I imagined those majestic seven days in which the God of the universe spoke creation into existence.
The universe was dark and void, and God whispers light into existence. Light, with every complexity of which the human mind can only understand a mere fraction of its magnificence, simply obeys its Maker’s voice. The universe sits in unconceivable silence, yet it quivers with expectancy at what is about to unravel.
With the creation of light and dark, God has man in mind. On the very first day, God considers man’s need for rest, and with a soft word spoken, he organizes time and space and creates the first parameters which man will live in.
On and on He goes, simply speaking into existence the very scientific phenomena that hold our world together. Water, sky, heaven. It is good. Earth, sea. It is good. Vegetation, trees, bearing fruit. It is good. Lights in the sky to mark our time, our seasons. Signs in the heavens reminding man to worship Him- not just as markers of time for ceremony and ritual, but vivid displays of His glory and majesty and infinite love and character.
Then God blesses Creation. As He creatively, thoughtfully, yet effortlessly hand crafts every kingdom, phylum, order, etc., of birds and fish, He laughs to himself as he keeps adding tentacles on the octopus, smiles at the thought of the starfish, knowing He placed His stars in the heavens one day and at the depths of the ocean the next. He loves it, because it is His beauty manifest in creating pearl-bearing oysters, His strength evident in the brute whale. “Multiply,” He says, “You are beautiful because I made you.”
His creativity doesn’t stop there. God displays more of His handiwork along the earth, creating each with purpose and thought and intention. I imagine He knew we would spend our lifetime discovering not only their beauty, but their intricacies designed in such a way that man would be foolish to imagine its origin in any way other than by God Himself. He lovingly lavished us with His presence through nature, although He knew that the pinnacle of His creation would become blind and deaf to it all too soon.
On the sixth day, His handiwork waits in reverent anticipation at what God is about to reveal- His crowned glory, man, in His very image. Not just an expression of His attributes, but creation of man in His likeness; royal as heirs to His inheritance, possessing dominion over every perfect created thing made thus far. He says it three times for emphasis: “He CREATED them.” They weren’t an accident, they were made for His perfect plan for creation, for the world He created for Himself.
God takes a look around. He already knows it, but He says it anyway. “It is very good.” Perfection. And not because He needs to, but because He wants to, He rests. Although He is outside of time and space and exists eternally everywhere without any restriction, He shows Adam a perfect model. “Work- it is good. And rest- I have ordained it and blessed it.”
All of creation rests perfectly and peacefully. Every bird of the sky and beast of the ground exists in gracious submission to man, whom God will breathe His own very breath into very soon. Perfect harmony abounds.
Can’t you just smell the perfect scent of unadulterated vegetation? See the vibrant flowers in every shade imaginable, full of life, being watered by a God-ordained mist to care for them as they wait on their master, Adam? Hear the cries of baby birds praising His Name in striking harmony, the mountains bow at His majesty, the waves crash upon the shore in undulating rhythm announcing His steadfastness and infiniteness. Can’t you taste the salty ocean air, bask in the glow of the warm sun on your skin?
When I think of Eden, I think of three things. First, I can’t imagine how C.S. Lewis’ depiction of Aslan singing over creation and bringing life to every created thing can be far from reality. Even if the animals didn’t speak, don’t you think they just looked at each other with knowing joy? I know they didn’t have souls, but I feel they understood their role- to bring their Creator glory. I now can’t help but picture creation dancing under the song of their Creator, gently ushering in their existence in a way that is both intimate and breathtaking. Second, I think of when the Wizard of Oz becomes colored. Sure, there weren’t little Lollipop Guild munchkins running around, but I imagine God waving His paintbrush over a wild grassland as He brings into vivid focus every green blade and every fuchsia wildflower. The whole world comes to life as God paints His masterpiece on the canvas he calls earth.
Third, I can’t help but imagine that Eden is a glimpse of heaven. Walking in perfect communion with the Lord, surrounded by His glory, without sin and corruption, before death was even an issue- God created earth to be His dwelling place one day! When we walk the streets of gold, when there is no more sorrow or pain, don’t you imagine there will be reminders of perfect earth there, too? Don’t you think when you see images of earth in the way God intended that there will be something in your soul that feels a little like déjà vu?
“I remember this from somewhere. I can’t put my finger on it, but it feels like in some other life I was made to live in this. I don’t remember it being quite this way, because this is beyond anything I’ve ever seen. But still…”
I don’t think heaven is just all pearly gates and streets of gold and infinite “white” as shown in movies. Why would a world God created in color not be even more vibrant and perfect in heaven? Why would it be absent of God’s creativity? I think we’ll spend heaven exploring God’s creation in a way we were intended to. Don’t you think before the fall Adam just danced around creation with boundless curiosity, marveling at every detail His Father put into the world around Him?
If Eden was perfect and was made by God, for God, for us to inhabit and enjoy, can you even imagine what heaven will be like?
I love how on my first day of reading about the beginning of the world, I was already overwhelmed with a homesickness for heaven. God is so beautiful, I wish I had the words to say it.
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