The Story

Long ago the world was not as it is now. There was no suffering, death or disease. There was no hatred or fear.  It was a time when people loved one another and their God, Creator of All Things.  But humanity rejected this perfect world for a more “thrilling” offer and turned away from God. They chose tobelieve a lie fed to them by the author of lies, the one called Satan or the devil. And because of humanity’s rejection of God and His perfect goodness, mankind fell into darkness. People hated each other, even members of their own family. Then they began to hate themselves.  They had forgotten the goodness and kindness of God and gave themselves over to their “feelings” of hatred, selfishness, arrogance and greed. Over eons, all of God’s creation fell deep into despair.  

Mankind did not realize or remember that God’s love was greater than the lie and that He had a plan.  Over time, God reached out to certain individuals who still believed the truth (that God is good) and who chose to listen and trust in Him. Eventually, God chose a peculiar people, the Israelites, and called them to once again believe and remember.

Through them God revealed His promise that one day, He would re-create this world as it once was.  But, after time, Israel too rejected God. Finally, God sent His own Son, Jesus the Savior, into the world.  Jesus taught the truth of God’s love. He healed people of their sicknesses and performedcountless miracles. He taught that God’s plan of re-creating the world was now at hand.  Ultimately, Jesus took upon Himself the painful consequences of rejecting God by dying on a cross. Three days later, God raised Him from the dead, demonstrating for history that Jesus truly had ushered in God’s time of the resurrection (or new creation).  Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus returned to theheavenly realm - leaving us His Promise that He will someday return to finalize His new creation and dwell with us forever. 

Through Jesus, people from every nation andgeneration have been given the opportunity to live with God in this world and spend eternity with Him in the new creation. This choice is still available today.