A story never fully makes sense until all of its parts are told. And we've reached the fourth and final part of the Biblical story: Restoration.

Let's recap, shall we?

We were created good. We messed it up. But there is one thing we want to make clear. After the fall is not where God's love enters the story.

God's love was ALWAYS a part of the story. Since the creation of our earth and skies, God's love has been present.

We are the ones who walked away from it. We read about Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, but we are in that story, too. We walk away from God's love in search of power and knowledge.

We were lost and dead to sin and suffering, but then God does something miraculous and literally enters the world in human form to walk among us and be crucified to buy us back.

So it all starts with us being created by the God of the universe. He called us very good.

So...what happened?

...how did we end up in these faulty bodies that experience sickness, pain, and suffering?

...how did we end up participating in systems that hurt others and rip away the Imago Dei (image of God) from them?

...how did once thriving ecosystems lose so much life?

...how did we stray so far from the God that loves us and created us?

“What is my purpose in this life?” or “What am I called to do?”

Have you ever asked yourself either of these questions? We have, too. But…both of those questions imply that someone is calling us. Someone is giving us purpose.

In order to figure out what we are meant to do during our time on this blue and green marble we call Earth, we need to start with creation.