In the beginning of the Inferno , Dante is on top of a mountain or high place when he starts his journey by encountering the panther. Through out the first three Canto it is depicted that he is slowly going lower and lower to the ground and evevntually ends up in Hell with the Master.Then it horrificly describes the occupants of Hell and how their faces are covered in blood, there is knashing of teeth and constant weeping. I think of their journey and how because they were unfaithful to God this is where they ended up. Dante's physical decension is never obvious just like one's spiritual decension isn't whenever we go deeper into sin.
A illustration I think of is this past Christmas break my family decided to go and hike a trail called Wall of Jericho which is on the border of Tennessee and Alabama. It is a stunning hike and one that everyone should take. The trail starts at the top of the mountain and runs all the way down , through the valley, and ends at a large waterfall. The decension was not the hard part at all and was quite enjoyable (just like sin) and we had to eventually climb all 6 miles back up a very steep mountain. Thankfully my family and I had a choice to walk back up to the top unlike these people who were stuck in the bottom forever.
It's easy to be lured by sin and to be trapped by it because of its powerful force but there will always be consequences to pay for after.
I commented on Dallas and Hannah's post.
I agree with this. The descent into repetitive sin is not always obvious to the sinner. In Dante's case, he knew that he was lowering deeper and deeper into hell, losing pity for the sinners while realizing the torment of each circle. Luckily, we as Christians have the gift of grace which allows us free access back out of the pit. We may have earthly consequences for our sins, but if we are saved by the grace of God we will not suffer the eternal consequence of condemnation.
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