The Throne was not exactly as Jesus had left it. Oh, it was eternal - everything in Heaven was eternal - but a great deal of Heaven gave very different impressions, depending on who was looking at it and what they were doing at the time. So it was that even though nothing had changed, the Throne was no longer a high and solitary seat; instead it was smaller, lower, and placed behind something that might have been an elaborately gilded and ornate desk. The Cherubim and Seraphim seemed further away: still singing their unending song of praise, but soft and distant enough not to be distracting.
Jesus approached His Father at a dignified pace. He was completely aware of the spreadsheets on the desk, and the numbers they contained. He was also aware of the way the Father was regarding those figures.
"YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS." It was not a question. The Lord God Almighty was all-knowing and all-seeing; He did not deal in questions, except of the rhetorical variety.
"I know, Father." Jesus stopped in front of the desk. "But look - wars have all but stopped, charity has increased dramatically, and the people..."
"FOR EVERY ONE WHO NEEDS HELP, I HAVE FIVE REQUESTS FOR CONVENIENT PARKING SPACES. FOR EVERY ONE WHO WANTS HELP PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDY, TWENTY WANT MONEY TO BUY EXTRA THINGS FOR THEMSELVES. THEY SEE NOTHING BUT THEMSELVES. THEY LEARN NOTHING FROM THIS. INSTEAD, THE ANGELS LEARN DISSATISFACTION AND REBELLION FROM THEM."
"They need more time," Jesus said. "We are only just beginning to guide them. I know there are problems, but we can solve them."
"NO." The Father straightened on his throne. His eyes burned and the light of His presence, always awesome, now became terrible as well. The throne seemed to rise as the desk and its contents fell away. "THIS IS DONE. IT DOES NOT WORK. IT IS NOT WHAT THEY NEED."
"Father..." Jesus protested, prepared to beg for the ones He ministered to.
"NO," the Almighty repeated. "THIS NEVER HAPPENED. WE DID NOT SPEAK TO THEM DIRECTLY. THEY DID NOT SPEAK TO US THROUGH THEIR BIBLES. A FEW OF THEM WILL REMEMBER IT, BUT ONLY AS A STORY THEY ONCE READ. IT WAS NEVER REAL."
And His Word was Law.
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