Everything was... good. Creation knew no suffering and lived in harmony with its Creator. The first man and woman were perfect, made in the image of God, walking together in their truest purpose, in glory and pure delight. It was Eden, paradise on earth. Until humanity was faced with a choice: to remain obedient to God's loving command to not eat from the forbidden tree, or to take of its fruit and face the consequence of pursuing the unholy in the face of a Holy God. To creation's demise, they chose the self, removing themselves from the blessing and promises of living blamelessly before their Maker.

It was a fall from glory so great, it is known as The Fall.

Genesis chapter 1, Genesis chapter 2, Genesis chapter 3, Romans 5:12, Romans 8:20-22

After The Fall, the world was defined by sin, decay, suffering, and ultimately death. We forfeited the chance to live in the good eternally. Now with the good, comes evil. While Eden became a memory, God already had plans for a future. A divine rescue story that would bring the Creator glory, his children hope, and creation ultimate and final renewal. It started with a covenant. A binding contract with a chosen people to carry the name, the glory, and instructions of the Creator God to bring order to their chaotic world, holiness to their sinful hearts, and divine relationship with their God. They were a billboard to all of Creation that said "God has not given up on us! And He won't give up on you!" All that was required of them, was to love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength - obedience.

Genesis 3:17-19, Genesis 12:1-3, Exodus 19:5-6, Deuteronomy 6:4-5, Jeremiah 31:31-34

But perfect obedience was not in their hearts. Just like in Eden, perfection was required to be in relationship with a holy God. Any blemish, any wavering from divine instruction, unleashed justifiable and holy wrath. God's Holy instruction could not be kept, because the human heart had already been corrupted. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”Therefore death, eternal judgment, and seperation from God was the verdict. That was until God stepped into the story Himself by becoming fully human. He was fully God, and fully man making Himself the only one fit and capable to live in perfect obedience and renew the heart of man. He did this by living a perfect life, sacrificing Himself on a cross taking the punishment of our disobedience upon His shoulders, and paying for the consequence of our disobedience and choice we've all made since eden: our self over our Creator.

Romans 3:23-24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 2:6-8, 1 Peter 2:24

But unlike every other religion, our savior didn't stay dead. Jesus, God in the flesh, after three days dead in a borrowed tomb, arose. Death no longer had the final say, sin and suffering was put in its proper place, and humanity was once again given access to right standing with its Creator. Jesus Christ's life, death, and resurrection has brought salvation to all who believe. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved!

His Glory is uncomparable. His beauty, goodness, holiness, and splendor are unlike any other, and we were created to display that glory with our lives. To live gloryco means to believe in the name of Jesus, and live your life in holy obedience to Him. When His glory is on display in our lives, we catch a glimpse of the eden that once was, and the eternal eden that is to come.

So, what do we do until then as believers? Matthew 28:19-20 tells us: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Romans 6:9-10, John 11:25-26, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Isaiah 65:17-19, Revelation 21:1-4, Philippians 3:20-21,