Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. -Genesis 1:2, NIV, emphasis mine
Then God decided to show up for His routine rounds from His heavenly lookout. Last century, He visited Andromeda and saw everything was running smoothly. The other one, He touched the faraway nebulae and fixed the runaway asteroids that chipped off each planetary system. Then He carved out the Milky Way once more, once more, and gave it that curvy shape we get to see on today's pictures and graphs.
However, the angels panicked about the state of the Earth. “God”, they asked, “What about that planet? You haven't done anything about it, and we just wanted to know--”
“Not yet”, He blurted out.
Eons and eons passed, and every planet was neatly created, crafted, and populated. Some had different bacteria that Satan would destroy when he had a spare time. Others had running water that harbored different kinds of fruit and plants, but Satan would drown them out. Everything God created was said as “good”-- but Satan, as always, his jealousy attempted to impede any display of happiness in God's face.
Then the angels panicked when they saw Satan roam the Earth. It was just the place he wanted to live: empty, desolate, black, scary...all the lie of a planet that would infect others like it. They pleaded in front of His throne day and night, saying, “Please, God, please don't let this travesty happen!”, to which He said, “Not yet.” Another decade, “Not yet.” Another century, “Not yet.” And another millennium, “Not yet.” Everyone grew anxious as Satan invited his minions into the yet-unformed planet. Before another strike happened, Michael pleaded, “God, this is happening too fast!” (Look who's talking about being in a hurry!) “Please, stop this!” And God said, “Not yet.”
Satan had a party, and He said, “Not yet.”
Satan was making plans, and He said, “Not yet.”
Satan claimed victory, and He said, “Not yet.”
And then he took out a flag. Everyone around him celebrated, and the angels panicked as they readily ran in formation. But God wasn't worried —He knew the emptiness would end soon...really soon.
And then God said, “NOW!”. And the angels ran with all of their might, rushing to planet Earth when everything else seemed hopeless. That pit of darkness ran away; no one, not even Satan could take in His power! Only God Himself could spread such light at will! In all the universe, an echo spread like wildfire, breaking into the purest light anyone has ever seen. The first light, in fact, when all that was empty suddenly became full of glorious joy.