Chapter One....In the Beginning

In the Beginning....GOD

Our story is set in the most incredible and somewhat fairy tale like surroundings. Endless trees producing every kind of fruit imaginable, yet to be named animals scampering through the forests, uncharted oceans pounding upon the untouched sands, unexplored mountains that reach the sky. God walks in the cool of the day with man. The man whom God Himself used His own breath to bring this being from the dust of the earth to life in His own image. Everything was good infact it was Very Good! There was no disease, sickness, anger, fear, stress, hatred, no everything was just as it was supposed to be. Later as we continue the story we meet a man named Noah. This man was chosen out of all of the people of the earth to save his family and two of every kind of animal just before God would flood the earth and wipe out all that He had created. What some might call a "do-over". So what went wrong? What happened between the pages from the walk in the garden to the door of the ark being closed by God Himself?

In God's great love He gave man a choice to be with Him. After all who would want to be loved by someone that was forced to love them? Without the freedom to choose it would not have been true love. He sets man in the garden, gives him authority over all of His creation and gives him only one rule to obey. The rule as anyone who is a parent will understand was there to protect him not to ruin his fun. The rule was simple you eat everything that you see except from the one tree for if you eat of its fruit (the fruit of good and evil) you will surely die.

Man (Adam) was responsible to also take care and protect his wife (Eve). Since Eve was not yet created the day that God told Adam the rules she gets second hand information from Adam who just happens to be standing next to her the day that changed the history of mankind forever. Eve is easily swayed by the serpent to taste the fruit. Doubt about God and His love for her is questioned. Did God really say that you should not eat? Maybe God doesn't want you to be as wise as Him? Maybe you should just taste it and see? Eve's faith in God's wisdom is broken and not only does she partake but gives it to Adam as well. Why did Adam stay quiet? Suddenly, both of their eyes are opened but wait...they are still alive? Did God lie? I thought He said they would die? What did they do next? Hide!!!

When God calls out looking for them they are cowering in shame. A new feeling that they had not know a few minutes ago. They pass the blame from one to another. The first sacrifice is made. God has to take the life of one of the animals that He created to use their furs to cover their nakedness. Then the most unthinkable happens next. God makes them leave the garden. No more casual walks in the cool of the day. They are cut off from the presence of their creator. The one that loved them more than anything in the world. Physically, they were alive. Spiritually, they were dead. Yet, God had no choice but to send them out. His love and protection of them was still the beat of His heart. "Least they eat from the tree of everlasting life and live forever". God was keeping them from further hurt and pain. Can you imagine living forever in shame, guilt, pain, sickness, hate, etc. So He sets angelic guards over the gates to stop them from furthering thier pain. While they wander through the desert in heartache. God is working on a plan to restore man unto Himself.

Adam and Eve's life is one of despair. Their choice has spread into the next generation. A few short chapters into the story and the first recorded account of murder takes place. Adam and Eve learn the pain of death-death of their son Abel commited by their other son Cain. Maybe for the first time they understand the pain that God felt in the garden. Watching your own children die and not being with them anymore has got to be the greatest pain any one person can experience.

Of course it doesn't stop there. Generation after generation to follow sin is spreading and man is becoming more and more sinful and further from God. God has to do something before it is too late. If the world had continued in this condition their would be no hope left of returning the people to a place of peace-or returning them to the garden where they could once again walk with Him.

He regrets having made man. Watching them destroy thier own lives is much more than He can bear. Yet, He has a glimmer of hope. Noah. And so the story continues through the one man who still loved God in the midst of a sinful world. God started over.

What will happen next? Will man come back to God? Will sin finally be done with?
Find out next week. Chapter 2 "The Story"