In the beginning of Genesis, we see the origin of perfection. It starts with these powerful words, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth” (1:1). God knew beforehand that the man and woman would go astray and that Jesus would have to be sent into the world to redeem fallen people. Yet, from eternity, the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—worked together in the creation and redemption plan. “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (v. 2). Creation is seen throughout the first and second chapters of Genesis. Over the course of six days, God spoke light into existence; His words formed heaven, earth, the seas, the sun, the moon, and the stars; the man and woman; plants for food; and every living thing on earth, in the waters, and in the air. He formed Adam and breathed life into him. God, after making Adam fall into a deep slumber, formed the woman from the rib of the man and brought the two together, which was the first and perfect marriage. God said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh” (2:24). That was, and is, to this very day, the standard for marriage. God placed the two into the perfect Garden of Eden. God had placed at their feet every conceivable thing they would ever need. Yet, the woman, wanting more, was deceived by the cunning serpent. She and her husband disobeyed God, which ended their perfect fellowship with their Creator. They and the serpent were cursed; such is the current state of the world. Paradise is to be no more. The perfect state of man has fallen into sin and continued rebellion against God. The human condition is now sin, division, tears, and death. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). God said to Adam, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life” (Genesis 3:17).

Before Times

To understand this more deeply, we should consider who existed before creation and what they were doing. Before anything else existed, the Godhead, or Trinity, was already there. God chose us before time began. It is God “who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world [time] began” (2 Timothy 1:9). Jesus “is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17).

God made the human race for close relationships and lasting joy in his presence, never intending they live apart from him but that they fellowship with him for eternity. He planned everything before creating. Our limited capacity cannot comprehend God’s ways: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). In reverent fear, man was to present himself before God, trusting in him: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Solomon concludes, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

The Unblemished State

We must not be deceived by messages that differ from the biblical gospel, beginning with the purpose of creation. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). Many alternative explanations—evolution, explosions, or long timelines—are from those who do not know true history. Any story different from scripture is a fabrication. The Bible says, “No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (2 Peter 1:20-21).

God, perfect and holy, created the first man and woman. Genesis gives a comprehensive record of creation. In six days, God made all things. Jesus, the Word, was there with God. Scripture reads, “The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:2-3). That includes the magnificently crafted garden called Eden, where man and woman were placed to live in purity and without shame.

The Corrupt State

The perfect relationship between man and God ended when man and woman lost their place in God’s presence. Given everything, they listened to another voice instead of God’s command, resulting in the fall: “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The world cannot return to its original glory after Adam’s fall; paradise is impossible to regain here. People will always struggle with sin, and no system can truly perfect society. Hope in this world to overcome its fallen state misses the truth and knowledge found in Scripture. The world has replaced the word of God with foolish teachings and has turned Jesus into a lie.

Over time, people have tried to make God and Jesus look like themselves, creating images and idols that do not show who the Godhead really is. Those images are often placed in public spaces, including churches, leading people to view God as resembling them. Artists and filmmakers have depicted Jesus in ways that align with prevailing cultural expectations. However, these images are inaccurate and harmful to the Gospel’s purpose, which is to bring people into the kingdom. Some people have even stopped worshipping Jesus because they cannot relate to how man has transformed his likeness into a figment of their wicked imagination. He is never to be constructed by human hands or played by actors whose portrayals of our Lord go against everything that is holy. God forbids it: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4).

Corruption is now pervasive. Many see the world as something to enjoy, even more so than their Maker. God is often ignored, and his name is ill-spoken of. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way …” (Isaiah 53:6). We have, indeed, turned our backs on God and gone against all that is holy and true. Wickedness continues to grow. Why? Because “Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

Millions believe the lie that they or others can restore the glory lost in Eden, but the word of God offers no hope in human ability to do good. Just as Eve believed the serpent’s lie, so humanity persists in believing his lies today. The inspired word of God is clear: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good … They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy” (Psalm 14:1, 3). Man cannot fix the world’s problems because he himself is the problem. “Evil men and seducers shall wax [grow] worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13). Mankind’s ways will never get better as long as they are friends with the world. Scripture warns: “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man [a human being], in whom there is no help [salvation]” (Psalm 146:3).

Anyone who trusts in themselves and their own wisdom is a fool. “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God … He taketh the wise in their own craftiness … The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain [futile]. Therefore let no man glory in men” (1 Corinthians 3:19-21). People often talk about what they can do, how they can change the world, and how they care about others’ well-being. But that kind of talk goes against the Word and is just a false message masquerading as the truth. Why is this the case? The Creator tells us. “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). That is the absolute truth about humankind.

The Offer of Redemption

We are incapable of saving ourselves, much less rescuing humanity from its fallenness. The world without God remains lost in darkness. The mind of the human is corrupt, out of focus, planted on earthly and sensual matters, and cannot be trusted to adhere to God’s will and purpose. Without God, people are spiritually blind, believing themselves sufficient, but actually headed for destruction instead of redemption. Only by coming to terms with the error of our ways can we see the need for true hope that is found outside ourselves.

There is only one hope for all of us to be saved: faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his redemptive power. “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8). Despite our sinful nature and inability to keep the law that was first given to the people of Israel, God showed his love toward us. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Jesus is the only way to God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). True restoration begins and ends with the one who died on the cross for us, making everlasting life possible. In Christ alone, we can overcome the depravity of our fallen state because he brings us into the light of God’s presence forever. God is our only hope.

This post was previously published on 01/13/2026 by Leon M. Kelly at https://walkinginlovetruthandpower.blogspot.com.

All scripture quotations are from the King James Version.