CREATION

Before time.  Before space.  There was God.  Then God spoke.  Galaxies came into being.  In one galaxy, and on one planet, He created.  Land & sea.  He spoke life into being.  Plants and animals on the land and in the sea.  And on the land He made a garden paradise.  In this garden was to be the crowning work of His whole creation.  The crown and pinnacle of all He created: from the dust of the ground He made them, man and woman and He breathed His own breath into them and gave them life. 

They lived in harmony with each other.  Man was created in His image, the image of God. Complete freedom.  Complete joy. 

No death.  No conflict.  No disease, perfect, shalom, all in a conventional relationship with God.  Full human flourishing.  They knew God intimately and were in a love relationship with Him. 

They were in covenant with Him.  Adam and Eve were to care for the garden, and to bring order, to rule over the animals, to name them.  They were to procreate.  A covenant, binding and enduring.  Blessings and consequences.  God’s part…He would provide their every need.  This covenant, this spiritual marriage requires, above all, faithfulness by both parties.  Regardless of circumstances.

This is what we were made for: relationship with God…pleasure.  The world is God’s kingdom.  We were to be co-regents with God.

They were told to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  And then Satan…