Man: his hopes/despairs; joys/sorrows; faith/unbelief; contentment/ dissatisfaction; his hopes/fears, from whence did they come? Vestiges from his original mint condition or from something that happened to destroy that original beauty?

We believe the first chapters of Genesis to be an accurate historical recording. If that account is wrong, what else is wrong? We make one basic assumption: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." He made man for His purpose and for His glory. He gave to Adam and Eve a commission: "Be fruitful, multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion..." This was to be performed on God's terms, under God's direction and for God's purpose. We see this in the privilege granted, "You may eat freely of every tree, except ONE tree. Eat it and you will surely die."

(Genesis 1,2)

You see, this world is His? Men are to live here on His terms, for His glory and their benefit. The Bible again and again talks of the "Blessed way" and the "cursed way". Man originally knew the blessed way, for they walked in that way, it was the good way, it was the place of blessed communion with their Maker. There was no death, no sin, no pain or tears. There was as we would say in our day wonderful job satisfaction.

Something radical happened to man's condition but there continues a longing for meaning, purpose, goals; a longing for satisfaction. Man in his heart of hearts wants still an Eden. But it is to be on his own terms.