16. Hear God Speak

I managed to land back in the 21st century, but then I had to make sure I was in Eden.

As I looked around I saw a young couple walking toward me hand in hand. The closer they got, the surer I was that it was my precious Eve and her husband Adam. Eve had never looked so young and so beautiful; I had never seen Adam.

“I’m back!” she said and dropped Adam’s hand to hug me. “This is Adam!”

Adam reminded me of Michelangelo’s David. It was breathtaking to be in his presence, a perfectly formed man. I wanted to believe that he was as perfect in his heart as he was in form. I never thought too highly of Adam when I read of how he caved to Eve’s request right away and without compunction, and how he blamed her immediately when caught. I wanted to punch him right then and there.

In the midst of these unsettled thoughts I tried to be polite, smiled and shook his hand.

“Look, I’m sorry I blamed Eve.” He said. As Eve could read my mind apparently so could Adam. “Don’t you think I’ve regretted eating that fruit too; will I never live this down?”

I tried to get over my embarrassment as I vaguely heard him go on. “Have you ever wondered what would have happened if she ate it and I didn’t? Have you ever wondered if God expected us to eat the fruit? Why did He plant that tree right smack in the middle of the Garden?”

“I’m sorry too Adam. Please let’s move on. We’ll ask God when the time is right. For now, the past doesn’t matter.” Then I turned to Eve and said, “Eve, I just arrived and I am not sure that I’m still in Eden.”

“Well, has God spoken to you yet?” she replied.

“I think He said that ‘Lilies laugh louder than nasturtiums.’ What a funny thing to say. I can’t help but laugh and wonder if it’s true.”

“Oh, it’s true alright. That lily family! What a cacophony they make, Easter lilies, tiger lilies, lilies of the valley, it’s a chorus of laughter when they come together.” She said all cheery.

Then I brought her right back down by adding, “How do I know when God speaks to me?”

Eve looked as though she felt sorry for me, or as if I was a two year old she had to teach to speak when she replied, “You can just tell, silly! Let me think. You know it is God is speaking when He says something that you just know you wouldn’t say. Sometimes He speaks through your conscience, sometimes through circumstances or through others, or through the Bible. God talks a lot. Here, read this:”

"He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God." John 8:47 NKJV  I cringed and she read on. "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:26-28 NKJV.

“Eve, I think I just heard God say He loves me, could that be Him?”