Head Back To Eden
Poetry by Lance Landall
A Spiritual And Inspirational Poem from All-Creatures.org

“But they soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel. But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness, and put God to the test in the desert; He gave them what they asked [flesh food — He sent them quails], but sent a wasting disease among them [God’s response to those who lusted after flesh food]” (Ps 106:13-15).

When God created this earth, He did not intend that we eat
Those creatures that He had created that moo, oink, quack, cluck or bleat.
In fact, no creature at all was to be eaten as if food,
Thus, many should change their diet, direction and attitude.

The killing of creatures and flesh consumption, occurred post-Fall,
Thus our measuring stick is the state that existed pre-Fall.
Yes, it’s that we should emulate, not the state we see post-Fall,
So head back to Eden's garden, that diet God gave pre-Fall.

Killing creatures for food just isn’t right, nor necessary,
Such killing hardens the heart, it’s callous and predatory.
'Cause not just we have a right to life, but God’s creatures as well,
Plus, talking about love, yet killing creatures, just doesn’t gel.

Those who kill creatures for food or sport, soon somewhat die within,
And some become so hardened that they could kill a man and grin.
And their love for guns and bullets borders on the obsessive,
Their false idea of manhood making them hard and aggressive.

And often the heads of prized trophies are found lining their walls,
Such being a heartless indifference that Jesus appals.
And soon they're seen seeking out more, enjoying the buzz they get
From stalking and slaying innocent creatures that pose no threat.

But aren’t all just as heartless who put food upon their clean plate
That's taken from some creature killed on their behalf, I must state.
Yes, they’ll happily eat creatures, but kill them themselves? No way!
For they would rather go without -- hypocrisy, one might say.

The diet that God first gave us was the one He knew was best,
And it was that one, for all living things, that He ordained and blessed.
He wanting to wean His people from their harmful post-Fall food,
As the diet He first gave, slaughtered creatures didn’t include.

Now, going by the Scriptures, God condemns that which wrecks our health,
And evidence clearly shows that flesh food will damage our health.
So why did our God allow flesh food? Well, we can only guess,
But one thing is very clear: Such things He didn’t always bless.

Yes, God did allow flesh food post-Fall, but with stipulations:
Only certain creatures, no blood, no fat — wise eliminations!
However, He points back to Eden, 'cause He's well aware
That there you’ll find His blueprint, that there what’s best for us is clear.

Both killing and flesh food consumption resulted from sin,
And therefore, neither of them are of Edenic origin.
This means, Eden’s diet must be best, and the right one to choose,
But as for us killing creatures, surely love such would refuse.

So don’t be like the Israelites who desired their own way,
But take note of their rebellion, how they wrongly went astray,
Why kill and eat a creature where Eden’s diet can be found,
And why repeat history, why make choices that are not sound?

No, Christians killing creatures certainly doesn’t gel with me,
Nor Christians eating harmful food that ill health will guarantee.
Killing’s an abhorrent act, and eating flesh food is unwise,
And both soon desensitize us, and will also brutalize.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:19,20).

“If any one destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Cor 3:17).

“The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den. They will not hurt or destroy on my holy mountain…” (Isa 11:6-9).