失落的天堂
就在我写这篇文章的时候，新闻中充斥着关于飓风、龙卷风和野火的报导。除了对大自然造成破坏性影响之外，这些灾害还会摧毁家园和城镇，对人们造成长期的影响。如果我们失去了家园，失去的将不仅是居住的地方，还有安全感和归属感。
人类最初的家园因堕落犯罪而丧失。魔鬼用虚假的承诺诱惑亚当和夏娃，说他们不需要听从上帝，自己就可以做出更好的决定。但这是一个谎言，我们的第一对父母坠入罪中，带给我们所有人审判和死亡。结果是，人类现在无家可归，我们无法靠着自己的力量回到上帝的面前。
今天，我们仍在罪的影响下受痛苦。在这个世界上，我们与上帝隔绝，即使我们尽了最大的努力，也无法修复破损的人际关系或创造我们渴望的天堂。
但上帝与我们的故事并没有结束。祂慷慨地供应我们，使我们离家后依然能过活。祂还问我们：“你在哪里？”让我们有机会认识到自己无家可归，并通过祂的儿子耶稣基督走上回家之路。
慈爱的上帝，我们渴望与你同在，得享安全感和归属感。请为每一个需要尘世家园的人提供庇护，让我们在基督里再次与你同在。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿们。
创世记 3:1-11, 22-24
1耶和华神所造的，唯有蛇比田野一切的活物更狡猾。蛇对女人说：“神岂是真说，不许你们吃园中所有树上的果子吗？”
2女人对蛇说：“园中树上的果子我们可以吃，
3唯有园当中那棵树上的果子，神曾说：‘你们不可吃，也不可摸，免得你们死。’”
4蛇对女人说：“你们不一定死！
5因为神知道你们吃的日子眼睛就明亮了，你们便如神能知道善恶。”
6于是女人见那棵树的果子好做食物，也悦人的眼目，且是可喜爱的，能使人有智慧，就摘下果子来吃了；又给她丈夫，她丈夫也吃了。
7他们二人的眼睛就明亮了，才知道自己是赤身露体，便拿无花果树的叶子，为自己编做裙子。
8天起了凉风，耶和华神在园中行走，那人和他妻子听见神的声音，就藏在园里的树木中，躲避耶和华神的面。
9耶和华神呼唤那人，对他说：“你在哪里？”
10他说：“我在园中听见你的声音，我就害怕，因为我赤身露体。我便藏了。”
11耶和华说：“谁告诉你赤身露体呢？莫非你吃了我吩咐你不可吃的那树上的果子吗？”
22耶和华神说：“那人已经与我们相似，能知道善恶。现在恐怕他伸手又摘生命树的果子吃，就永远活着。”
23耶和华神便打发他出伊甸园去，耕种他所自出之土。
24于是把他赶出去了，又在伊甸园的东边安设基路伯和四面转动发火焰的剑，要把守生命树的道路。
Paradise Lost
"The Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken." - Genesis 3:23
As I write, the news is filled with stories of hurricanes, tornadoes, and wildfires. In addition to their destructive impacts on nature, disasters like these have long-term effects on the many people whose homes and towns they destroy. If we lose our home, we lose not only a place to live but also a sense of security and belonging.
Our first human home was lost because of the fall into sin. The devil tempted Adam and Eve with the false promise that they could decide better for themselves and did not need to listen to God. But that was a lie, and our first parents' fall into sin brought judgment and death for us all. As a result, humanity is now homeless, and we cannot make our own way back to the security of God's presence.
We still struggle under the effects of sin today. In this world we are cut off from God, and even our best human efforts fall short of repairing broken relationships or creating the paradise we long for.
But God is not finished with us. God graciously provides for us so that we are able to survive away from home. And he asks still, "Where are you?" giving us an opportunity to recognize our homelessness and to follow the path to return home through his Son, Jesus Christ.
Loving God, we long for a place of security and belonging with you. Provide for everyone who needs an earthly home, and restore us all to your presence in Christ, we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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