God created human beings; he created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature.
He created them male and female. Genesis 1:27 The Message
In the beginning, every one of us reflected God’s nature.
And the Lord God planted a garden (oasis) in the east, in Eden (delight, land of happiness); and He put the man whom He had formed (created) there. And [in that garden] the Lord God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food . . . Genesis 2:8-9a Amplified Bible
In the beginning, God gave us a garden paradise.
We all know what happened next. But then,
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
John 3:16-17 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
God Himself paid the price that was too high for us to pay.
He paid it to retrieve what we lost – in the beginning.
[Jesus said,] I can guarantee that there will be more happiness in heaven over one person who turns to God and changes the way he thinks and acts than over 99 people who already have turned to God and have his approval.” Luke 15:7 GOD’S WORD Translation
And this is how it will be – in the end:
Let’s prepare a great feast and celebrate. For my beloved son was once dead, but now he’s alive! Once he was lost, but now he is found!’ And everyone celebrated with overflowing joy. Luke 15:23-24 The Passion Translation
But you are God’s chosen treasure—priests who are kings, a spiritual “nation” set apart as God’s devoted ones. He called you out of darkness to experience his marvelous light, and now he claims you as his very own. 1 Peter 2:9a TPT
God says that each believer is a priest and king,
His unique and special treasure of great importance and extraordinary value —
a treasure above all other treasures.
