The Garden of Eden
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n the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth. For seven days, He created everything from the land to stars, from animals to mankind. And He gave man dominion over all of the things on the Earth. He called His greatest creation Adam, and allowed him to name the animals and tend to the Garden of Eden. When Adam grew lonely, God created Eve and all was good and there was peace in the Garden.
But this peace in paradise was not to last, for God had commanded Adam and Eve to not eat of the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. To eat from this tree would only bring death. But, God promised Eve that her offspring would crush the head of the serpent who tempted her to eat of the fruit.
The Great Flood
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n the time of Noah, mankind had mulitplied and filled much of the Earth since the Garden of Eden. But mankind had not been the stewards of the world God had blessed them with, and God told Noah to build an Ark to house his family and two of every animal for He was going to destroy the world with a great deluge. Noah obeyed and was ridiculed for his faith in God.
The Flood came and after 40 days and nights, it receded. Noah and his family were saved due to their obedience. After the ordeal, God set a rainbow in the sky as a promise to Noah and all of mankind that He would never again destory the Earth with a flood.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
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od warned the first humans that to sin was to invite death, but they were tempted and deceived. As time marched on, it was painfully obvious that we all must pay the wage of sin at some point - death. Both spiritual and physical death was brought into the world by our disobedience to God. However, God makes an uplifting promise to the Psalmist concerning death.
God has promised those that believe in Him that he will be with us to comfort us and guide us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. We will not have to fear any evil for He protects us. For those who place their trust in Him, He will sustain them and offer them everlasting life. A promise that holds true after Death’s shadows have faded.
The Cruxificition and Resurrection
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he culmination of God’s promise to Eve began on the cross at Calvary. After a life of self less minsitry and love, Christ went to the cross to die an excruciating death - a sacrifice for all of mankind. His death on the cross meant that those who believed in Him were absolved of their sins. But Jesus Himself promised that this was not the end of His work.
Fulfilling centuries old prophecies and His own, Christ rose from his tomb after three days. His sacrifice on this world complete, He returned to be with God the Father in heaven, but promised that one day He will return to make His kingdom here on Earth as it is in Heaven.
A New Heaven and a New Earth
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od promises His chosen that they shall be with Him in heaven. After the events in the book of Revelation, God says that He will create a new heaven and a new earth. He will wipe clean the slate that humanity tarnished, and start anew. The new Earth will not know death, sadness, or sin. It will be a new Garden of Eden for a new generation.
It is in this end that God fulfills His greatest promise of all. He holds true to His Word. From the dawn of creation, He had a plan for us. He knew we would fall and face difficulties. He was just in His judgements, and He was merciful in His kindness. With a new creation, we will be able to be with God for all of eternity without the need to fight the temptation of sin.