The Beauty Of A Children’s Bible

Posted on September 8, 2008 
Filed Under Fathering, Life, Photo, Spiritual Life

A small thought…became a big thought!

It started when I was reading to my youngest child last night. He wanted to go over the story of creation - for the 714th time. I was fine with that, because the illustrated kids Bible we have been reading lately has some pretty good artwork! More importantly, I was happy to indulge him because I love reading Scripture to the boy. Can’t say no!

You’ve been through the first chapters of Genesis more than a few times, I suspect. After the story of creation, there’s the story of Adam’s beginnings, and the making of Eve. I poked Zane in the side and asked if he knew how God made the first woman? We talked a bit about ribs and dust and breath. For a 5 year-old, he seemed to get that pretty well.

Then we came to the temptation of the man and woman, and their sin. As I walked him through the consequences of disobedience (something he and I are discussing with some frequency these days), I read the line in Genesis 3 about God driving out Adam and Eve from the Garden. “He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden and a flaming sword which turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.” (NKJV)

“Who can get in there?” asked Zane.

“Nobody,” I replied. “They had to leave forever, and couldn’t go back to the garden. Ever.”

“The bad guys can get in.”

“Nope, they can’t. See the angels (there were two heavenly beings in this illustration)? See the sword? Nobody can get into the garden.”

“If it rains someone can get in.”

“No, rain won’t put out that fiery sword. God is making sure nobody gets in.”

Silence.

“There,” I thought, “he understands a little of the Truth about decisions and disbedience, I guess.”

Then I became more thoughtful about the finality of the man and woman leaving the garden.  I don’t recall ever hearing a sermon about the garden of Eden. I don’t recall much in Scripture about it, either.

I started to wonder….what happened to that garden? Where’s the “door,” so to speak, through which Adam and Eve made their exit? Are the cherubim still there? Is that entrance still guarded, and if so, are we just unable to see it? Maybe it is hidden from human sight? Who will be the first to go back into the garden when Christ redeems all creation and takes His place on the Throne?

Suddenly, I was grateful for a chidlren’s Bible and a five year-old’s desire to know more about God and His divine story.

I don’t have all the answers, of course, but that’s okay.

At least I am starting to understand some of the questions!

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