Originally on earth all was play. There was nothing Adam and Eve were required to do that they did not enjoy doing. They played all the day and night.

Their work of caring for the garden was play because it was what they were created to do and desired to do. All work is play when this is what we have been created to do and want to do.

At one time I was an elementary-school teacher. I said to myself many times that if I had so much money there was no need for me to work I would still be there at school in September, ready to enjoy a new class. Teaching was not work for me, it was play because I wanted to do what I was doing.

So it was with Adam and Eve. But then the wretched Satan entered the garden of Eden. Satan no longer is able to play. Everything he touches is corrupted and destroyed. The Satan-filled individual cannot enjoy and love a small child. He must molest it, corrupt it, destroy it. He is unable to play.

Because Satan cannot play he does not want anyone else to play. He accuses the saints when he sees them playing because he is envious. He moves among the carnal believers so they too will accuse the saints. This is why there is so much slander and gossip in the Christian churches. It is because Satan and those who are influenced by him cannot bear to see people playing. They want the believers who are enjoying Christ to grind at the mill and be miserable along with them.

Adam and Eve acted outside of God's will. The moment they did they no longer were permitted to play. They were cursed with work.

Work is that which we are required to do but would not do if we had a choice. Any task can be play, or it can be work, depending on whether we wish to perform it.

The right to play was withdrawn from us because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve. God will return the right to play to us if we meet His conditions.

In addition to the right to play we also must develop the ability to play. The means of obtaining the right to play, and then the ability to play, overlap. But for increased clarity of thought we will discuss them as though the way we gain the right to play and then the ability to play were two separate programs.

Keeping our mind on things above.

The Bible says that if we have received Christ our life is now hidden with Christ in God. Our new born-again personality is at the right hand of the Father, far above every other power or authority. It is a firstfruits of the new creation being waved before the Father so the remainder of our personality will be holy.

To be continued.