Pearl had often wondered what her own Backyard Garden was like before she and her sister Blanche moved in to live there with the other chickens. She was thrilled to find out that the very first story of The Ancient Words was about The First Garden ever!
Jesus Was Present at Creation
A long time ago, before anything was made, there was God. There was nothing else—no sky, no land, no people. Just God. Then, God decided to make the world.
From the Old Ancient Words: Genesis 1:1— “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.”
From the New Ancient Words: John 1:1-3 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… Through Him all things were made.”
From Pearls Perspective: It is nice to know that the Jesus who loves me was there before anything I can see or feel or taste or smell or even hear was ever created. It is like he made it all for my enjoyment and the things that I would need even before I came into this world. I can see just how truly wise and powerful He is. More than that, I also know just how trustworthy he is because he thinks of everything. When I look around me, I can’t think of anything that I don’t need.
Jesus Brings Light into Darkness
First, God made light. Before that, everything was dark. God saw the light and said, “This is good!” He called the light “day” and the dark “night.” That was the first day.
From the Old Ancient Words: Genesis 1:3 — “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
From the New Ancient Words: John 8:12 — “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
From Pearl’s Perspective: It was clear to Pearl that Jesus made light specifically to help animals like chickens. He knew that because chickens can’t see in the dark, there would need to be something to help them. Without light, chicken would just be waiting around for something to stumble onto them and decide to eat them. At least with light, chickens would have a fighting (or running) chance!
Pearl also realized that when she was with Jesus, her life would be much lighter and happier so that she could enjoy every day and find comfort whenever darkness came along.
Jesus was like a flashlight that the Backyard Gardener used in the evening when she had been playing until the sun had set. The flashlight guided her up her chicken ladder to her coop at night.
Jesus Gives Purpose to People
From The Old Ancient Words: Genesis 1:26-27 — “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness’… So God created mankind in His own image.”
From The New Ancient Words: Colossians 1:16 — “For in Him all things were created… all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
From Pearl’s Perspective: Curious chickens like Pearl often wonder why she matters in this great big world. After all, she is just a little white hen. She doesn’t do any one thing particularly well enough to be rich and famous. She wasn’t even created in the image of God the way people are, but she knows that she was created from the best ideas and thoughts of God and for nothing else but to flap her wings, look for bugs to eat all day, and to give. Everyone can give, just like God gives. As a chicken, Pearl knows that when she lays the best eggs she can for The Backyard Gardener and other people to enjoy, then she is giving just like God and Jesus.