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So then...
If man is truly “created in the image and likeness of God”, what does
that mean and what then is his role in creation?
To me, it means that men have the potential to be the most powerful,
and life-giving creations of all His created beings. Scripture
affirms this.
It means that as you look around and perceive all that is beautiful,
terrible and noble, men – individually and collectively, have the
inherent ability to be the most beautiful, powerful and noble creation
on this earth, at this moment, and for all time. But, you cannot be
what you do not know, what you have never perceived, or, if you
perceive these truths there is the knowledge that you are flawed,
imperfect. Unlike Christ, you must fall short. What then is the
point? It is simply this – that with this awesome power and beauty
there is a terrible responsibility. And, responsibility is the key.
You must respond to your divinity through effort of will. You must
fight the darkness within and without, using your strength, wisdom and compassion, to protect, to uphold and to fight the Evil one as he prowls this present darkness.
Those who are weak – cry out to you, some silently, some with tortured
pleas. That which is temporal, that which is finite, that which
contradicts this divinity by way of the flesh through temptation and
ignorance, must be overcome - moment by moment. You were not created
to indulge your temporal desires. You were not created to wield that
power for your own comfort and need. You were not given that power in
order to crush those weaker than you to your own will. You were given
this divine aspect to create in the midst of all creation, those
things which are life giving – in word and in deed. Your failures
must be given up – let go of, or, they will inhibit this purpose.
Satan will win the final victory if you allow yourselves to be
paralyzed by guilt and remorse. Remember, what sin or failure you
cling to, fills a space in your soul that could and should be filled
with life-giving light.
So then, turn away from the darkness – within and without – fill
yourself with the power and wisdom God freely gives and in turn, be a
light in this great spiritual darkness. Don’t let yourself be
distracted by the concerns of everyday life. Do what you must to
maintain, but do not let your focus be on this alone. Embrace those
in need, empty yourself in giving life and love to those around you
who so desperately need it. God will never abandon you or cease to refill
your cup, and, when your days upon this earth have come to an end –
you may then look to our Lord, the source of all Love and Truth, and
know that He will receive you into eternal life having been the
greatest of His creation and the servant of all.
Look into the faces of those you love and those you meet, what
you perceive reflected in their person will tell you if you have in
some way become that which you were created to be. If all about you
are suffering, then you must give more and take less or you have
failed to reflect the light of God’s love. The weak may then become
strong, enabled by you, to continue the good work which you have
begun. Replenished by your love, your care, they are in turn free to
be bearers of that same light. But it begins with YOU.
If you doubt this - look around you and perceive the evil in the
present hour. Listen, and you will learn of the enormity of man’s
ability to perpetrate death, destruction and despair. Listen again –
you may not hear that mans’ propensity for good may far out-shadow
such evil. If you don’t desire this goodness, if you don’t believe in
your personal and collective ability to create this glimpse of heaven,
it will simply never exist.
Men have the power to choose to let those who are weaker than
themselves assert the truth and even, to live. You have only to look
to those countries where men wield this power to the death and despair
of women and children to know that this is true. Good men, certainly
any man who professes to be a Christian, must hold this power in check
to allow the gifts and strengths of others to become manifest.
And, while a man may begin this course by directing his energies toward his own family, he must not be content with his own little “church”. The
need is too great. That is why Christ poured Himself out so
completely. He was not satisfied with those whom he knew, he strove
and conquered for all. That is the standard by which a man must
measure himself, that is the goal he must ever pursue.
I hold this mirror before you because my life and the lives of
many others depend upon your recognition and response to precisely
this. Love, in moments, may be wondrously happy, even delightfully
simple – Love in its full Glory, must always be both sacrificial and
bittersweet.
that mean and what then is his role in creation?
To me, it means that men have the potential to be the most powerful,
and life-giving creations of all His created beings. Scripture
affirms this.
It means that as you look around and perceive all that is beautiful,
terrible and noble, men – individually and collectively, have the
inherent ability to be the most beautiful, powerful and noble creation
on this earth, at this moment, and for all time. But, you cannot be
what you do not know, what you have never perceived, or, if you
perceive these truths there is the knowledge that you are flawed,
imperfect. Unlike Christ, you must fall short. What then is the
point? It is simply this – that with this awesome power and beauty
there is a terrible responsibility. And, responsibility is the key.
You must respond to your divinity through effort of will. You must
fight the darkness within and without, using your strength, wisdom and compassion, to protect, to uphold and to fight the Evil one as he prowls this present darkness.
Those who are weak – cry out to you, some silently, some with tortured
pleas. That which is temporal, that which is finite, that which
contradicts this divinity by way of the flesh through temptation and
ignorance, must be overcome - moment by moment. You were not created
to indulge your temporal desires. You were not created to wield that
power for your own comfort and need. You were not given that power in
order to crush those weaker than you to your own will. You were given
this divine aspect to create in the midst of all creation, those
things which are life giving – in word and in deed. Your failures
must be given up – let go of, or, they will inhibit this purpose.
Satan will win the final victory if you allow yourselves to be
paralyzed by guilt and remorse. Remember, what sin or failure you
cling to, fills a space in your soul that could and should be filled
with life-giving light.
So then, turn away from the darkness – within and without – fill
yourself with the power and wisdom God freely gives and in turn, be a
light in this great spiritual darkness. Don’t let yourself be
distracted by the concerns of everyday life. Do what you must to
maintain, but do not let your focus be on this alone. Embrace those
in need, empty yourself in giving life and love to those around you
who so desperately need it. God will never abandon you or cease to refill
your cup, and, when your days upon this earth have come to an end –
you may then look to our Lord, the source of all Love and Truth, and
know that He will receive you into eternal life having been the
greatest of His creation and the servant of all.
Look into the faces of those you love and those you meet, what
you perceive reflected in their person will tell you if you have in
some way become that which you were created to be. If all about you
are suffering, then you must give more and take less or you have
failed to reflect the light of God’s love. The weak may then become
strong, enabled by you, to continue the good work which you have
begun. Replenished by your love, your care, they are in turn free to
be bearers of that same light. But it begins with YOU.
If you doubt this - look around you and perceive the evil in the
present hour. Listen, and you will learn of the enormity of man’s
ability to perpetrate death, destruction and despair. Listen again –
you may not hear that mans’ propensity for good may far out-shadow
such evil. If you don’t desire this goodness, if you don’t believe in
your personal and collective ability to create this glimpse of heaven,
it will simply never exist.
Men have the power to choose to let those who are weaker than
themselves assert the truth and even, to live. You have only to look
to those countries where men wield this power to the death and despair
of women and children to know that this is true. Good men, certainly
any man who professes to be a Christian, must hold this power in check
to allow the gifts and strengths of others to become manifest.
And, while a man may begin this course by directing his energies toward his own family, he must not be content with his own little “church”. The
need is too great. That is why Christ poured Himself out so
completely. He was not satisfied with those whom he knew, he strove
and conquered for all. That is the standard by which a man must
measure himself, that is the goal he must ever pursue.
I hold this mirror before you because my life and the lives of
many others depend upon your recognition and response to precisely
this. Love, in moments, may be wondrously happy, even delightfully
simple – Love in its full Glory, must always be both sacrificial and
bittersweet.
Man was made in the image of Jehovah. Jehovah is good, so man should be good as well. The logic of that is simple, unfortunately the logic of morality in the bible is not. Jehovah should be judged by his behavior just as we judge ourselves by our own behavior, for what good is logic if we must suspend it only for the being who has given it?
ReplyDeleteIn terms of judging God by His behavior, I believe that the best way to ‘judge God’ is by the actions of His Son, not the writings of men who justified and or explained their experiences and perceptions within the limited framework of their reasoning… I do not believe in a God who slaughters innocent women and children, or who punishes them because of an emotional whim. Where there is contradiction concerning the actions of God within the scriptures, I look to the overwhelming accounts of His love in the New Testament.
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