Creation Contrast

Kristin and I are again reading through the Bible this year and so began in Genesis on Saturday (thankful that our reading plan considers the weekend to be one day). Reflecting on the creation account this morning, I was struck anew by the vivid description of paradise - as a lush, tropical garden. "The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food" (Gen. 2:9). And He gave the first couple "every seed bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it" for their nutrition and enjoyment (Gen. 1:29). Theirs diet was full and varied, their home was rich, warm and bountiful, and their lives were filled with discovery, joy and exploration. Imagine waking up each day with new hills and valleys to explore, new flaura and fauna to discover; a fresh experience around every corner - and all with a flawless companion, and with regular contact with the Creator Himself.

This is the vivid depiction of Eden in the Bible.

In stark contrast, we just finished The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It is a tragic portrayal of the trudging survival of a father and son through the barren wasteland of a world without life. Everything is gray and covered with ash. They plod along a southward road, pushing a shopping cart with their meager food and possessions. The very few people they come across are either desperate thieves and murderers or wasted beggars more despairing than themselves. This ashen void is a good picture of Hell - a place without life, without hope. But the real Hell would also remove the one glimmer of light from the near total darkness of the story - the connection with another human being. And that will be the true hell of Hell - the removal of all contact with other souls - an unending ash-covered road across an infinite, barren expanse.

The Bible paints vivid portraits of both Heaven and Hell - raising the compelling, driving question for each of us about where we will be for all of forever. We were not made for Hell, for the permanent absence of relationship, for the severance from life, beauty and exploration. No, we were made to experience every facet of creation - to discover, to enjoy, to taste and see that it is, indeed, "very good." And we were designed to experience these things in eternal relationship with our loved ones and especially with our loving Creator and Savior - who endured Hell so that we would not have to.

(I was moved by Randy Alcorn's book Heaven - an inspiring vision and exhortation to seek out and "set your minds on things above, not on earthly things," [Col. 3:1-2].)