"Tell him to go now," her husband instructed.
His wife did so and watched the large cat move away until he
was lost among the forest again.
Taking his hand again, they moved off.
They stopped momentarily to take in the beauty of the meadow.
The low grasses encircled the clam blue pond like an emerald.
Small feathered creatures floated on the water's surface making
soft sounds between themselves. Electric green, red and blue
insects skimmed the waters with translucent wings a foot wide.
Pale green leafage floated on the blue surface with blazing white
flowers perched atop their expanse. A four-legged golden brown
creature with horns on his head was drinking from the far edge of
the pond.
"It is a deer," the man said reading her thoughts. "Come,"
he urged, "let's go sit by the water together.
The man and woman sat by the water and exchanged thoughts for
hours. He revealed to her all that the Creator had shared with
him including the relationship to Him. they sensed His nearness
even as they thought of Him.
The sun slowly drifted to the horizon until it perched on the
edge of the world. The canopy mist surrounding the globe to water
the earth's greenery fractured into a brilliant curtain of blues
and violets, greens and emeralds, yellows and golds, reds and
pinks, ambers and browns; as though someone had pulled ad
beautiful shimmering translucent blanket across the darkening
world.
Soon it was dark; the brilliant sunset colors which had
painted the sky dying away until the stars began to twinkle. He
discussed the stars with his wife then and explained their
existence and their distance from their home. Their minds seemed
to walk across the vast distances, as though treading on sheets of
translucent light, exploring the glories of the universe.
Soft night sounds surrounded them. Insects hummed in the
warmth of the night and the tiny sounds augmented their
conversation. They sat close; their arms entwined. The moon rose
over the forest then and they both held their breath was it
loomed into the night darkness. The wind drifted through the
trees; singing softly in the blackness. They heard a splash in
the water near their feet and both looked down just in time to see
a fish break water; his bodily flashing silvery in the moonlight
before he just as quickly disappeared below the water's surface.
The water lapped quietly at their bare feet but soon the pond was
glass again; the moon rays reflecting from its surface. Animals
called softly back and forth in the branches of the nearby forest
but they were not afraid. It was their first night together and
they shared it in body soul and spirit.
The sun awakened them slowly as it edged itself up over the
horizon. The trees almost blazed with fire as the yellow rays
struck their foliage. The birds were singing and chirping and the
animals moved from the tree line tot he waters edge to drink.
Setting up, the man looked upon his sleeping wife and watched
her stir. Her long hair had created a soft pillow beneath her
slender body. They had slept so intimately, their minds
harmonizing in single thought, they had become one.
When she opened her eyes, she saw her husband admiring her
body and smiled. Thoughts passed between them silently and she
sat up. "Let me show you something," he said casually and held
out his hand to help her up. They walked to the tree line and he
pulled something round from the nearest branches. He held it up
and she took it from him. "It's called fruit." He said matter of
fact. "Nearly all the trees have such growth for us to enjoy.
The taste is sweet. Go ahead," he urged, "try it."
She did so and the taste was indeed sweet. "I like it," she
proclaimed; her voice rising in pitch with delight. "There are so
many new things to experience together in our world the Creator
has made for us," she concluded.
"Yes," he replied, "you are of course right. The entire
world is for us and we have yet to see but a fraction of its
glory."
He watched her devour the fruit and did so himself. They
pulled several more from the branches and ate them together.
Finally, when they were done, he held her hand once again and
walked a few yards to one end of the pond where two trees stood
out from the rest. "There's something I need to tell you," he
said carefully.
Standing before the two beautiful trees, he released her hand
and watched as she examined both trees with wonder. "They are
indeed beautiful trees and their fruits are beyond words."
"Yes," he agreed, "they are the most beautiful trees in the
garden. they even have names given to them by the Creator. One,
the one on the right," he touched its leafs, "is called the Tree
Of Life. The other is known as the Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good
And Evil. The Father has allowed us to eat of the Tree Of Life
but forbidden the consumption of the other."
"Forbidden?" his wife questioned.
"Yes," he said with finality. The Father Creator has told
that if we eat thereof, we shall surely die." He touched her
mind then with the knowledge of death and all that the Creator had
shared with him at his formation.
"I see," she said slowly as she studied the tree. It is,
however, most beautiful, is it not?"
"Very beautiful," he agreed but we are not to eat of it. All
other trees are available to us for food but this single tree. Do
you understand?"
"Of course," she said quickly; never taking her eyes from
the magnificent tree. "I will not eat of it."
"Perhaps," her husband said as he considered her form as she
stood near him, "it might be best if you likewise did not even
touch it. In this way," he said pedantically, "you will not be
even tempted to eat of its fruits."
She stood looking at the beautiful tree with its lush green
leafs and beautiful ripened fruits as they hung from its bows. "I
will obey your commission," she said firmly. "I will not even
touch it."
"Come then," he said with joy in his voice," let's run
through the forest and explore more of His creation.
"the woman sighed as they disengaged their thoughts of the
first days. They both sat in silence for several moments and then
finally she spoke. "I almost hate to continue our voyage into the
garden. We both know the out come."
"Yes," her husband agreed, "but it is our heritage
nonetheless and their is much to be learned from that which Adam
and Eve faced so many hears ago."
"Let's continue, then," she said; her mind coupling with his
as they both considered the past.
The creature moved effortless through the forest; his feet
never touching the ground. His eyes roamed the terrene;
searching, sensing, recording every movement. He was proud, very
proud, of his existence. Nothing was more beautiful and his
movements were with purpose and finality. He radiated with shinny
brilliance; his movements flashing with shifting curtains of
light as though reflected from thousands of polished mirrors.
The sound of his voice was authoritative while at the same time
musical. His ethereal followers were innumerable and they obeyed
him without question. He was in command. The animals of the
world parted when he approached because they sensed his evil power
and presence. He was indeed the most beautiful of all God's
created beings and he reviled in that knowledge.
Before entering the clearing, he changed form. Gliding
across the top of the fresh grass, he approached the forbidden
tree. Coiling about the tree's trunk, he rose into the strong
branches till he was at eye level and then stopped to admire his
possession. His penetrating eyes touched every part. "At Least
the Father left me something I can call my own," his thoughts
pulsed.
The woman was alone.
"Ah, he mused, "time for a little chat again with the woman.
It's a good thing the Father has given me this tree or I'd never
be able to communicate with these human beings He loves to boast
about. Seems odd, though," the serpent considered briefly, "that
he has allowed me to communicate at all. Oh, well," he sighed,
"it's better than nothing."
"Greetings, Woman," he said politely.
The woman never looked up when she replied. "Nothing else to
do in the world today Lucifer?"
The blazing creature smile to himself. "She's very smart."
"I wonder how long she can hold out."
"I was just admiring the tree again this morning," he said
aloud. "It is indeed beautiful isn't it?"
The woman was working with something in her hands. She still
didn't look up, "Of course it is. Everything God makes is
beautiful."
"Everything?" he questioned, "even me?" His voice rose
slightly in pitch on the last word.
"Of course," she said, "Even if you do choose to possess
other forms rather than your own.
"You know why," he purred, "why I use other forms. The
Father," he hissed sarcastically, "has made it impossible for me
to show myself in the physical realm. I am forced, therefore, to
share the bodies of others since I am a spirit being."
God makes no mistakes," the woman countered.
"Well, thank you," he said cynically. "I was beginning to
think you were ignoring me lately. I'm happy to know you think
the Creator," his voice hardening on the word Creator, "didn't
make a mistake when he made me."
"He makes no mistakes," she repeated and sighed heavily.
Looking up for the first time. she said, "I can make you go away,
you know, as I have so many times before."
"Yes," he said thoughtfully while studying her carefully,
"you could do that and I would, of course, have to go but I'm
interested today in what you are doing," he said nodding to the
object in her hands.
Her eyes drifted to her hands, momentarily distracted and
then holding up the object, she said, "I'm making a bowl in which
to hold liquids."
"My," he exclaimed, "it's very nice."
The woman laid the bowl down and stood to her feet. "Must
you always speak disrespectful? Must you always reduce
everything to sarcasm? Why won't you admit your defeat."
Letting his long sleek body hang from the end of an even
longer branch, he allowed himself to extend toward the ground
giving the appearance of almost floating. Coiling his body, he
raised his head to eye level and before speaking, he expanded his
thoughts; raising them to their highest spiritual intensity. "No
disrespect intended Woman. I, too, am a creation of the Creator
as is everything. I am indeed thankful for my existence and
wouldn't want it any other way." His tone of voice was disarming.
"You," she said inflecting sarcasm herself, "are thankful
for something? You acknowledge the Creator as Lord?"
"Of course," he said mater of factly. How could I think
otherwise."
She studied him then with a careful eye. "You are the
deceiver," she announced; her voice level and controlled. "You
deny truth at every hand, you seek to destroy and ridicule. YOu
know nothing of the Creator and his will and you deny everything
that comes from the work of His hand. You even use the body of
another creature instead of your own in order to mislead and
deceive."
"This is not true my lady." he countered. "We have had many
talks such as these over the years and you know my respect for the
Creator and His handy work. As I said, I am thankful for my
existence. Think back over all our talks. I have agreed to many
of your points. Have I not?"
"Yes," she said flatly, "you have agreed when it suited your
purpose."
"I am surprised at your accusations dear Woman. As for this
form which I choose to possess, I do so in order that we might
communicate more freely. My true form might alarm you."
"Where is your husband this fine morning," he said abruptly.
She turned then, surprised at the sudden change of topics,
and walked to the tree of life and pulled some ripe fruit from a
low branch and bit into it. She turned then and after swallowing
the first bite, said, "He is here."
"Here," the creature said rotating his head slowly about and
glancing in every direction. His brilliant reptilian colors
sparkled in the morning sunlight, "I don't see him."
The woman laughed then, a smile lighting up her beautiful
features. "My, I thought the lord of the earth, as you like to
call yourself, knew everything."
The creatures movements were deliberate and measured as he
turned again to face her. "I know," he said as though teaching a
child something new, "you and the man are always together in mind
but physically can sometimes be apart or separated from each
other. Frankly, I rather have enjoyed the visits we have all had
together over the years. I wish he were here now so we could talk
some more." The deceiving angel's voice somehow sounded sad.
The woman laughed again. "You are amazing," and she took
another bite of her fruit.
"Why, thank you my lady. I'll take that as a compliment.
You haven't answered my question about the whereabouts of the man,
however."
"My," she said displaying a wide smile; her lips colored
purple from the fruit, "the prince of the power of the air is
asking the woman. this is something new in the earth today."
He bowed his head and allowed himself to look defeated.
"He is away," she finally said with a toss of her head; her
long hair undulating.
"I trust," the creature intoned softly, "we can once again
speak of God then or will you touch your husband's mind with your
thoughts for protection?"
"I do not fear you Lucifer," she said confidently, "and since
my husband is away at the moment, I will speak to you again and
give Father glory."
They sat without conversing for long moments. Finally he
spoke to his wife. "He was indeed subtle."
"Yes," she sounded mentally, "we are all so easily fooled by
him. It's difficult to understand, though, how Eve was deceived."
"When you stop and think about it," he contemplated aloud,
"using eternal wisdom was his main appeal. He, in fact, was
correct concerning what he knew about pre-adamic times. Eve knew,
that is, she had never experienced Heaven as did he. His
beguiling manner, subtle nuances, and his suggesting of vast
knowledge, not to mention his penetration of one's thoughts, all
play an important part in his web of deception."
"Not unlike what he did throughout earth's history," she
said.
"Exactly," he concurred.
"Then," she said slowly; shifting slightly in her chair,
"what about today. He isn't here."
"No," her husband replied in turn, "he isn't but there are
millions of unregenerate souls upon earth. though they are aware
of the Creator and know His ways, they are still unregenerate.
Left to ourselves, we will always reject the truth because the
flesh is weak."
"Satan will be released one day," she commented without
expression.
"Yes he will but not for a long time yet."
They gazed out across the darkness knowing that the sun would
soon rise.
"Let's finish our meditation then," she said, and they both
joined minds again.
"It is time for you to leave," she said, a little weariness
touching her words. "I have heard all of these arguments many
times before and I will never understand why you continually use
the same empty arguments."
The creature smiled to himself; knowing the hour was growing
late. "My dear lady, my words are not senseless; they are truth
and I will show you why." Gliding to the forbidden tree, he
touched it's branches. "Is this tree not beautiful?"
The woman turned and watched him caress the tree as though
it were a live animal. "Of course it is," she said stepping
closer. "Everything, as I have said so many times before, which
the Creator has made is so."
"Then tell me my lady, why would God make something like this
and then refuse you to partake of its beauty."
"Because<" she said, "it is the Father's way."
"Hum," the creature purred thoughtfully, "He has withheld
something from you. Perhaps it is because He doubts your
abilities to comprehend the power and wisdom of this tree and its
fruits."
"And why would He do that?" the woman questioned; still not
convinced.
"Well, He's like that you know. God doesn't tell you
everything. I have, on the other hand, been around much longer
than you or your adventurous husband. I know what it's like to be
in the presence of God, to walk among the fire stones of Heaven
and to live before the world began. You, on the other hand, are
limited in such knowledge. There is much to know before the
beginning of the universe. The wisdom of the glories is far
beyond the simple mind of humans. God knows, you see, that if you
were to eat of this tree, you'd gain the knowledge of the eternal
which He has and which I have since, of course, I have existed for
so many ages in the glories. You and your husband know nothing of
the Heaven and of time before earth. You are limited in so many
ways. It is sad," he said bowing his head dejectedly, "the Father
does not trust you to know more." The creature then brought all
of his power to bear and flashed it at the woman before him.
She stepped back; as though something had struck her. the
deceiver called upon all his forces to converge on the garden to
give him assistance in his great deception. The invisible
creatures burst upon the garden and flung their thoughts against
the mind of the woman; bombarding her with conflicting emotions.
She steadied herself and gazed directly at the angel before
her; the tree standing in brilliant display behind him. It was
beautiful, she thought. In fact, it never looked so beautiful.
The deceiver flashed waves and waves of emotions over the
woman and heighten all the senses of visualization at his
disposal. "See the fruit," he gestured, "it has more beauty than
any of the other trees in the garden. Be honest," he encouraged
slyly, "would the Creator make something as beautiful as this if
it were so harmful? Is there anything in the world that can harm
you?"
Continued in Part three.
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