This is paradise. The trees are in bloom and streams flow freely. The smell is heavenly and the Earth so crisp and fresh. The animals are all peaceful and the world is at ease. I survey this with great satisfaction. He put us here as guardians and as protectors of His world. The world that is called Earth we protect and cultivate. "Be fruitful and multiply," was the Father's commandment. I will obey. My wife and I will have children and care for this perfect paradise, this Eden. That was the plan. It would have been a wonderful place. It would have been free of disease. We all would not know the meaning of suffering. Like a voyager in a foreign land, we would not know the meaning of suffering.
Death it would not have hung over our heads like rolling fog. Death would not exist. Man would live forever. Things would be as pure as snow, as pure as the love on the Father's face. We had everything because He provided it. We had food, shelter, and love. He walked with us and talked with us in the garden. We knew not we were naked, and we did not care. We felt elated and thankful. Yet, we could not obey. We could not obey His command to stay away from the forbidden fruit. The only thing we were not to do is eat the fruit of one tree. Eve and I failed.
He came in the form of a serpent. His tongue flickered to and fro and his scaly hide would be our undoing. He spoke to Eve. He tempted her with the fruit. She knew we should not eat it. But, she did eat it. She then convinced me to take a bite. That first bite was the beginning of the end. The world would become corrupted and distorted. Our descendants would suffer from my sin. I knew that I could not remain in this perfect world. I had been created from the dust of the Earth, and now I had tainted my Father's image.
The Father was furious. Eve and I realized our nakedness and were ashamed. We covered ourselves and were banished from Eden. Two angels stood guard to make sure we could not return. The world became a frightening place. Murder, death, lying, and deceit were everywhere. Pain and suffering became mankind's biggest woe. Women were forced to suffer agonizing pain during childbirth. I could still see some of God's perfection and love in the face of the tiny babes we bore. They were cursed with my sin being my offspring, but they still were innocent and unable to sin. There were nights I cried. I held my face in my hands and cried in agony. "Oh my Lord forgive me!" I prayed to Him in the heavens. "I have ruined what You intended!" Eve would sob with me sometimes as we held each other knowing that generations later would spite us for bringing evil into the world and knowing what might have been.
I felt like a miserable wretch. I had separated man from God. We were not able to reach Him directly and were separated from Him by our sins. We were marked, and our punishment was death. Some would die two deaths, a spiritual and a physical one. I hung my head feeling guilt and sadness grip my bosom. I remembered the warmth and pure light of Eden. I recalled the feeling of content and tranquility that had surrounded me. The Lord had walked by my side and looked upon me so proudly. I had failed Him. I hoped somehow we could redeem ourselves as He had meant us.
I, Adam the first creation of the Almighty God, ushered sin into this world. All my descendants are born with the mark of my failure upon their brows. They will be able to redeem themselves, but only if they follow Him. We will never again step onto Eden on this Earth but only when we reach His kingdom. I am Adam, and I will always remember that I am His child.