'The Fall' from 'Lord God' to Just 'Lord'

In the Book of Genesis, there is a notable change in how God is referred to after Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden. Initially, God is called "Lord God" (often "Yahweh Elohim"), but after Adam and Eve disobey God and eat the forbidden fruit, the title changes to simply "Lord" (or "Yahweh"). While this may seem like a small shift, through Neville Goddard’s lens, it holds a deeper meaning related to manifestation and the nature of human consciousness.

"Lord God" in the Creation Narrative: Imagination as the Creative Force

At the beginning of Genesis, the title "Lord God" represents God’s role as both creator and a deeply personal figure. From Neville’s perspective, God represents consciousness and imagination, the creative power that shapes reality. The use of "Lord God" in the creation story points to how imagination gives life to experiences.

For instance, in Genesis 2:7:

"Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being."

This passage symbolises how our imagination breathes life into our desires. Just as God forms man from the dust and brings him to life, we use our imagination to create our world. "Lord God" represents the power of consciousness actively shaping reality.

The Shift After the Fall: Loss of Awareness and Limited Consciousness

After Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit in Genesis 3, a change occurs. The title "Lord God" is replaced with "Lord". This shift can be seen as a reflection of the loss of awareness that follows disobedience. In Neville’s interpretation, this represents how we fall into a limited state of consciousness when we allow doubts or distractions to take over our mind.

In Genesis 3:8-9, after the fall:

"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'"

This passage illustrates the disconnect that occurs when we forget our creative power. When Adam and Eve hide, it symbolises how we hide from our own imagination and power when we let negative thoughts or doubts control us. The title change from "Lord God" to "Lord" reflects this shift — from a full, intimate creative power to a more distant, sovereign figure.

Manifestation and Consciousness: The Fall as a Loss of Creative Power

Neville Goddard taught that consciousness is the only reality, and that we manifest what we focus on in our imagination. The transition from "Lord God" to "Lord" mirrors the loss of awareness we experience when we stop living from the end of our desires and start letting negative or conflicting thoughts take hold.

The shift in God’s name is symbolic of humanity’s separation from its creative power. When we give in to fear, doubt, or external distractions, we lose connection with our innate ability to shape our reality. This disconnection is symbolised in the "Lord" title, which reflects the withdrawal of intimate creative presence.

Guarding the Mind: Preventing the Thief of Doubt

For Neville, the fall of Adam and Eve reflects how easily we can lose control over our thoughts. When they ate the forbidden fruit, they symbolised humanity's tendency to allow external circumstances and negative thoughts to influence their reality. Just like the thief in the parable of the house being broken into, doubt and fear can steal our manifestations if we aren’t vigilant about what we allow into our minds.

In Genesis 3:16-19, the consequences of Adam and Eve’s disobedience show how ignoring their connection to creative power leads to difficulties and suffering. This serves as a reminder that without mental discipline and focusing on our desired outcome, we face the consequences of losing control over our creative faculties.

Living from the End: Reclaiming Your Creative Power

The key to reclaiming the "Lord God" state is to live in the end — imagining and feeling that your desires are already fulfilled. Neville emphasised that to manifest, we must focus on our desires as if they are already reality, remaining steadfast in our imagination.

When we live from the end, we reconnect with the full power of imagination, represented by "Lord God". Just as God formed man and breathed life into him in Genesis, we can shape our reality by aligning our imagination with our desires and focusing on the feeling of the wish fulfilled.

Conclusion: The Power of Consciousness in Manifestation

The change in the name of God in Genesis represents more than just a linguistic shift; it signifies a change in consciousness. "Lord God" reflects full awareness and creative power, while "Lord" points to a more distant, sovereign figure, symbolising the separation that occurs when we lose awareness of our ability to create.

By focusing on living in the end and guarding our minds against doubt, we can return to the "Lord God" state — where our imagination and consciousness fully align with our desires. Through this process, we can manifest the life we wish to create, reconnecting with the creative power that resides within us.