Joined: Sun Jan 27, 2008 3:03 am +0000 Posts: 2423 Location: US
|
.
This is chapter 13 of "The Gardens of Eden - Life and Times of Adam and Eve." Just imagine, it's the seventh day after they arrived on Earth and are looking forward to a day of rest. Instead, a mob of garden workers wants to worship them! This rowdy group is in awe of the violet skinned beauties who so recently appeared. First the mob tries to worship Van, another awe-inspiring celestial personage. But he escapes and sounds the alarm. Adam and Eve, who are sleeping at home in the east of Eden, must come and quell the crowd. They awaken and sense something is wrong. They quickly take to the air on the backs the great birds, the fandors, but that won't bring them fast enough. Van calls on the midwayers for help.
Chapter 13 - The Crisis
Van could see midwayers and communicate telepathically with them. After the close escape he called upon their chief to bring Adam and Eve to the Father’s Temple by midwayer transport, to calm and teach the emboldened throng in proper worship.
The vocal leaders were entirely sincere but causing a growing uproar. Workers and supervisors were all but demanding that these visible gods come so they might express this overflow of worshipful feeling that had been growing since the pair’s arrival.
So it was early on the morning of the seventh day when the midwayers flashed into action and snatched Adam and Eve from the backs of the fandors just after they had taken flight. They were carried directly and quickly to the center of the trouble. The workers were stunned into silence when Adam and Eve appeared to land without birds or other visible support, their eyes not attuned to the midwayers obediently and carefully transporting them. This was construed as further evidence that they were indeed gods sent down from heaven.
As the pair landed one of the most vocal leaders yelled, “Our gods have come! They can fly!” All the would-be worshipers turned to see. A great roaring cheer went up as the crowd gathered to bow before them.
Adam and Eve assessed the troubling situation as the group encroached. Then both raised a hand to quiet the fervor. After a moment of silence in recognition of Adam and Eve’s God-given authority, and in anticipation of any command from the pair, the worshipers looked at them longingly. They fervently hoped one or both would indulge their fiery, soul-felt urge to venerate and worship these newly arrived, and instantly adopted, gods.
Adam then said with the authority of a true leader, “Come, follow us to inaugural mount where Eve and I would speak with you about the object and practice of worship.” The beautiful pair promptly led the way on foot, closely followed by these exuberant souls seeking to satisfy an innate, but misdirected, need to give affection and receive divine blessing.
When the raucous crowd was assembled around the inaugural mount, Adam and Eve looked out upon their adoring faces. Adam spoke again in clear and measured voice, “Today is the seventh day of our sojourn on Earth. Eve and I had planned that it be a day of rest. But now we are declaring that it shall be a day of rest and worship. Today we will teach you the way of true worship, our method of approaching the only one who deserves such veneration and adoration.”
Eve said to them, “You may bestow any respect or honor on us, but never worship. We are our Father’s sons and daughters, as are you. We took origin only slightly higher than you. We adore and worship not each other, but the Universal Father who, with limitless righteousness and infinite power, creates all the creatures of heaven and Earth.”
“But you are like God!” a woman yelled out.
Adam replied immediately, “We are like God, for we are all created in his spirit likeness, but Eve and I are not the Creator and Upholder of the Universe any more than you. And have you not noticed that everyday each of you becomes a bit more god-like? To achieve the perfection of God is the eternal goal, to become Godlike, but never God. No, we are not gods.”
Another of the throng shouted, “But we can see you, and you fly without wings! You are gods to us!!” Of course, when she said that a great and sustained chorus of agreement sounded.
Eve responded authoritatively when the cheering subsided, “It is true our Father is not in front of your eyes as we are, but his works are everywhere, even the Earth you now stand upon, and the stars above which are homes to other ascending souls. We did not create this world and the stars. We are fellow creatures who are enjoined by the angels to worship the Father of All—one who graciously and generously bestows all favors that spirit-children have the capacity to receive. Increased spiritual capacity, joy, and creativity are the fruits of genuine worship. This is true, personally and collectively.
“The divine plan of mortal advancement insures evolving civilization will receive every one of God’s intended gifts. These bestowals of heaven are kept safe for a time when the individual and the group are able to recognize their value and significance.
“Adam and I come bearing a three-fold gift of physical, intellectual, and spiritual invigoration. But we represent just one of many orders of sonship. Other sons will come to the Earth after us, each bearing a greater gift for the uplift of humanity, and the expansion of the power and influence of sincere, intelligent worship. Worship can be misleading when our Heavenly Father is not its object. Worshipping lesser beings, imperfect beings, can only lead to disappointment and division.
“With us, a new era begins in the administration and evolution of world affairs, but there is a Maker who sets up the worlds,” said Eve emphatically. “Our God is the one to worship, the one all who know worship.”
The questions and answers went on until the sun was high. Eve and Adam succeeded in convincing almost everyone that God alone was to be the recipient of worship, not them or Van.
It was a momentous day. Just before noon Adam and Eve ceased their impromptu lecture. Adam pointed to the Father’s Temple saying: “Now we will lead you to the material emblem of the Father’s invisible presence on Earth, to his temple that sits at the center of the Garden. Let us there bow down in worship of him who made us, and who watches over every living being until our Earth days are done. And let this act of worship also become a sincere pledge that you will never again be tempted to worship anyone but God, our Father and Creator.”
Eve concluded this touching exchange between leaders and listeners saying, “Follow us now, to the Father’s Temple that we may give all due and proper worship to the one who is most deserving.”
And this was the origin of the seventh day being devoted to worshipful contact with the Maker of the Universe, and he alone. From that day forward, workers, administrators, guests, Adam and Eve, all gathered at the Father’s Temple at noon on the seventh day for group worship.
The Sabbath day tradition originated this way, thanks largely to the timing of Adam and Eve’s over-awing lectures on plant and animal life on the sixth day. The Garden volunteers meant well, and Adam and Eve found a way to turn their good intentions into a weekly habit of worship and progressive spiritual development.
This seventh day was originally dedicated only to worship and rest. Gradually it took on certain other traditions somewhat reflective of the daily routine of Eden’s schools. It evolved that, before noontime worship, attention was given to physical activity. After the worship period, instruction regarding the quality of thinking was given. The evening of this seventh day was usually spent freely socializing, rejoicing in friendships and the family feelings that come from such intimate associations and habitual practices. This seventh day worship tradition was adopted by all the Garden’s temples following the crisis.
***
The Gardens of Eden - Life and Times of Adam and Eve, is available in audio, paperback, Kindle, Spanish, French, and German versions:
English, paperback, Kindle, Audible: https://www.amazon.com/Gardens-Eden-Life.../dp/B088KPH2N4/
Spanish: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KRT84F2/
French: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08N9X8Z2Y/
German: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YKHKZYB/
.
_________________ Richard E Warren
Last edited by rick warren on Mon Sep 19, 2022 6:30 am +0000, edited 1 time in total.
|
|