阅读经文 

起初，人类没有理由离开家园，因为他们生活在乐园里。上帝创造的伊甸园提供了人类繁衍生息所需的一切。在园子里工作也是充实而舒适的。《圣经》将上帝无微不至的关怀描绘成对祂所造之物的白白的赏赐。

从创世之初，上帝就为我们人类提供了一个在祂面前生活的地方，那里有我们所需的一切。我们可以享受上帝与我们同在的喜悦，在上帝面前自由自在地生活。

那么，我们为什么要离开呢？正如《圣经》所描绘的，我们对家一个基本的感觉就是满足，这是一种在上帝的看顾中享有安息的能力。因此，当上帝设置了限制，比如有一棵我们不能吃其上果子的树，我们能相信这是为了我们好吗？我们会发现，人类很难知足。相反，我们更愿意走自己的路，找到一个可以随心所欲的地方。这样我们就永远远离了上帝同在的完美家园。

但是，自从我们离开伊甸园，我们的灵性就开始干渴，渴望那些两边满溢着上帝创造之美善的河流。只有在祂的儿子耶稣身上，上帝才让我们重获满足。今天，你愿意跟随祂回家吗？

In the beginning, there was no reason to leave home because humanity lived in paradise. The garden God had created provided everything needed for human flourishing. Even work in the garden was fulfilling and comfortable. The Bible pictures God's extravagant care as a free gift of grace for his creatures.

From the world's beginning, God offered us human beings a place to live in his presence with everything we needed. We could delight in God's being with us, and we could enjoy being at home with ourselves before God.

So why would we ever leave? As the Bible portrays it, one essential element of our sense of home is contentment, an ability to rest in God's care for us. So when God sets limits, such as a tree from which we may not eat, can we trust that this is for our good? As we will see, humans find it difficult to be content. We prefer instead to make our own way, to find a place where we can follow our own desires. And we forever run away from the perfect home with God.

But ever since we left the garden, we have been spiritually thirsty, longing for those rivers overflowing with God's created goodness. Only in his Son, Jesus, does God offer a return to contentment. Will you follow him home today?