Chapter 17 - Page 255 - Trouble In Chicago

   Jim looked back at Rhasha and Shanha. Shanha was still looking at the snakes, but Rhasha looked at Jim and asked, "Did she eat the fruit?" A snake began slithering around a large rock inside the cage. She moved further away from the glass, dragging Shanha with her.

   Jim laughed, then answered, "Yes, sweetheart. Adam and Eve both ate the fruit."

   "Did it make them like God?" Rhasha asked.

   "No, angel," Jim said, "but they did know the difference between good and evil. When they ate the fruit, Adam and Eve realized they were naked. They sewed leaves together for clothes, and hid themselves from God."

   "Did God find Adam and Eve?"

   "Yes, dear. God walked on earth in those days, and on that day he walked through the Garden of Eden. He called for Adam and Eve, but they wouldn't answer him. When he found them, he knew what they had done."

   "What did he do then?" Shanha piped up.

   "He put them out of the Garden of Eden, and caused Adam to have to work for a living. He also caused Eve to have children."

   Rhasha frowned in thought. "Did God punish everyone on earth because of what Adam and Eve did?"

   "No, sweetheart. God punished everyone on earth because everyone ate of the fruit he commanded them not to eat. Everyone, that is, except for Jesus. He always obeyed God."

   "I don't understand," Rhasha said. "You always say Jesus died on the cross, so was he punished by God too?"

   "No, Jesus was God in the flesh and was sent to earth to do what he did."

   Rhasha was still confused. "That doesn't make sense to me. If Jesus was God in the flesh, then how could he also be God's son?"

   Jim knew he was only confusing Rhasha more. "Sweetheart, it would be hard for me to explain how God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit are all separate beings, but of the same person. In time you will understand these things."