“ Yet to face the fact of man’s fall is ultimately to be filled with hope, as to deny it is to despair. “No view of human nature,” says Bishop Lightfoot, “is so inexpressibly sad as that which leaves out the Fall. The existence of evil in its many forms . . . cannot be gainsaid; and, if this evil belongs to the essence of man as created, then there can be no prospect of relief here or hereafter.” “The way to the tree of life” is guarded, not that man might never return, but rather that he may. “ ⚔️❤️

❤️There is always a cost to following & loving Jesus. It means surrendering comfort, loosening ties that pull us away from Him, and turning away from sin. We cannot simply choose the parts of His teaching that we like, because truly following and loving Him demands sacrifice. We are called to receive His Word and allow it to transform us, EVEN WHEN IT HURTS. This is our modern form of penitence 🩸