Paradise on Earth: A short story

What would have happened if Adam and Eve never sinned? Come with me on an imaginary adventure into the Garden of Eden and together we will find out.

Once upon a time, about 6000 years ago, God decided to create a world. The world would be absolutely perfect. The man in charge of the world had everything he could want. He had several computers that could run any kind of program, a 50 inch TV, a car that ran on water, a loving wife, money, a mini-golf course, a shooting range, a mansion, and a large garden. He had everything he wanted.

The only rule was he was to eat of every tree in the garden: but he was not to eat of the Tree of Knowledge between Good and Evil, for the day he ate of it, he would surely die. Other than that, he could do whatever he wished. Man also had a woman to help him, Eve.

Life was beautiful. Bunnies, kangaroos, giraffes, penguins, and snakes would come up to Adam every day and give him a kiss. Adam loved to play soccer with the horses. After they played a while, they would say goodbye and play by themselves. He also went to the ocean and petted dolphins. The orca whales were his favorite sea animal, and the dinosaurs were his favorite land animals. He once had a Brachiosaurus on his baseball team!

His entire job was to take care of the garden God gave him. His favorite part was being able to talk with God. His favorite food was the apples that were the size of a CD-ROM. He loved the grapes that were the size of a baseball. He once ate a banana the length of a book.

One day long before the creation of the earth, there was a rebellion in Heaven. Lucifer, God’s Second-in-Command, rebelled against God. The angels were astounded. No one dared to fight God. No one had ever rebelled against God. To do so was stupid. God created everything. He could even take the gift of life back if He wanted to. God had every power imaginable: shooting fireballs; resisting enemy attacks; calling down a tornado; even raising the dead. Every kind of incredible power was available to God. Not only that, God was loving. Why would someone want to rebel against God? Not only was He all-powerful, He was a kind God. He was like a father to Lucifer.

What would cause Lucifer to hate God? The answer is pride. Lucifer wanted God’s authority and power. God said no and one third of the angels joined Lucifer. However, God’s army overcame Lucifer’s army. He lost and was cast out of God’s estate. Lucifer’s name was changed to Satan and he was cast into Hell to await the final battle, which would take place someday at a town named Megiddo. Satan’s lead soldiers were bound in chains and cast into the lake of fire, where they would spend their time in excruciating pain. (Ezekiel 28, Luke 10:18)

Satan suspected that, in the final battle, he would lose. So he needed even more soldiers than the angels he already had. He would need many men too.

So one day, Satan went to Earth to trick Adam into sinning. However, he knew that He had to sneak by God to do so. He developed a plan.

As Adam was playing hockey with a group of penguins, Satan, who was disguised as a snake, snuck up on him and told him that he could make his own rules.

Listen in on the rest of the conversation:

Satan: “Adam, did you know that God is holding you back from true wisdom?”
Adam: “No, He’s not. You’re just making that up!”
Satan: “No, really. He doesn’t want you to know about good and evil.”
Adam: “I already know what’s good. I don’t want to know about evil.”
Satan: “You can gain every magic power God has and be as wise as Him.”
Adam: “What do I have to do, eat from the Forbidden Tree?”
Satan: “Exactly.”
Adam: “You’re not serving God! You’re leading a rebellion!”
Satan: “I wouldn’t call it a rebellion. I would call it an improved government.”
Adam: “Liar! I don’t believe you! I won’t believe you, not ever,”
Satan: “Suit yourself. You’re missing out on a feast of wisdom.”

At this shout, a lot of animals gathered around to see what was going on. “Don’t do it!” One of Adam’s dinosaur friends shouted. “He is leading a rebellion against God.”

All the animals chorused to Adam not to eat of the Forbidden Fruit. Embarrassed and seeing he was overruled; the snake slithered away as if his life depended on it. And it was. All the animals were chasing it out of the Garden. After the failed attempt to get Adam to sin, the snake snuck back into the garden as a snake (without Satan).

The giraffes lumbered over to poke Adam to tell him good job. He petted them and played soccer with them.

After the event, Adam and Eve had many children. Each one spent much time playing with the animals. Each one was also able to walk and talk with God. No one even thought of smoking or drinking alcohol. People shared with each other and weren’t selfish. They smiled a lot. There was no untimely death, no disease, and no war.

However, people did have swords. The swords were used as toys, to practice fighting with for the sole purpose of exercise. Another popular exercise was archery. Kids could go to school and learn all kinds of fun things. Kids learned about English, Math, Science, History, fitness, cooking, and how to fish. Fish was a very common food. Theology was the most common course taken, for God Himself taught it. People loved school. After every class, everyone ate freshly made cookies. People lived to be a thousand years old.

6,000 years after the Creation, all men were called up into Heaven to join the Final Battle. All angels, men, and demons instantly got transportation to the battlefield. Satan and his army were hopelessly outnumbered. The winner was to receive Heaven for all of eternity. The loser was to receive Hell for all eternity. God and his army defeated Satan and his minions and cast them into the lake of burning Sulfur. God and his army went to Heaven to rejoice and live in a place that made the original Earth pale in comparison.

After the battle, God sat on His throne to judge the enemy army, doomed to the pits known as Hell, chained, where there is eternity of nothing but crying and gnashing of teeth. God and His followers, however, were called up to Heaven, where every kind of pleasure awaited them. Grapes the size of a baseball; turkey legs the size of a bed; computers as advanced as the human brain, capable of running any game or program; waterbeds; CD players; mansions; and many other treasures, where they spent eternity worshipping the one true God.

Dear friend, although this story has fictional elements, it has elements of truth. God is real. Unlike the story, man rebelled against God. God, however, wanted to show mercy and sent His Son to die in our place. God wants you on His side. At the end of the final battle, Satan will be cast down with his soldiers into eternal torment. Don’t join his cause. You will only doom yourself to his torment, too. Satan can promise the moon, but there’s one thing he can’t do: deliver himself or anyone who follows him, from their fate. If you want to join God’s army, just pray this prayer:

Jesus,
I have sinned against You. I know You are my Judge. I deserve to be cast into Hell forever. Please forgive me for my sins. I want to join Your army.

Amen.