True Christianity #34
34. In people, the Infinite Divine is present the way something is present in an image of itself. The Word shows this, when we read the following:
Finally God said, "Let us make human beings in our image, according to our likeness. " Therefore God created human beings in his own image; in the image of God he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)
From this statement it follows that human beings are organisms that are open to God, and organisms whose quality depends on their response.
[2] The human mind - the source and determiner of our humanness - has been formed into three areas to match three levels. On the first level the human mind is heavenly; angels of the highest heaven are on that level. On the second level it is spiritual; angels of the middle heaven are on that level. On the third level it is earthly; angels of the lowest heaven are on that level.
Organized as it is to accommodate these three levels, the human mind is a vessel for receiving divine inflow. Yet what is divine does not flow in beyond our smoothing of the way [Isaiah 40:4] or our opening of the door [Revelation 3:20]. If we smooth the way and open the door all the way to the highest level, the heavenly one, then we truly become an image of God. After death we will become an angel of the highest heaven. If we smooth the way or open the door only to the middle or spiritual level, then we still become an image of God, but one that is not as complete. After death we will become angels of the middle heaven. But if we smooth the way or open the door only to the lowest or earthly level, then we become an image of God at the lowest level, provided we acknowledge God and worship him with acts of devotion. After death we will become angels of the lowest heaven.
If we do not acknowledge God and do not worship him with acts of devotion, we divest ourselves of the image of God and become like one type of animal or another, except for the fact that we still enjoy the ability to understand and therefore to speak. If under those circumstances we close our highest earthly level, which corresponds to the highest heavenly level, we become like farm animals in what we love. If we close our middle earthly level, which corresponds to the middle spiritual level, we become like foxes in what we love, and like birds that come out in the evening, as far as our intellectual discernment goes. If we close even our lowest earthly level to its spiritual counterpart, we become like wild animals in what we love and like fish in our understanding of truth.
[3] Divine life flows in from the sun of the angelic heaven and energizes us much the way light from our sun flows into a transparent object. Our highest level receives life the way light flows into a diamond; our second level receives life the way light flows into a crystal; our lowest level receives life the way light flows into translucent glass or parchment.
If the lowest degree is totally closed spiritually, as happens when we deny the existence of God and worship Satan, life flows into us from God much the way light flows into opaque things on earth: rotten wood, swamp sod, dung, and so on. At that stage we become spiritual cadavers.
Psalms 104
1
Bless Yahweh, my soul. Yahweh, my God, you are very great. You are clothed with honor and majesty.
2
He covers himself with light as with a garment. He stretches out the heavens like a curtain.
3
He lays the beams of his rooms in the waters. He makes the clouds his chariot. He walks on the wings of the wind.
4
He makes his messengers winds; his servants flames of fire.
5
He laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be moved forever.
6
You covered it with the deep as with a cloak. The waters stood above the mountains.
7
At your rebuke they fled. At the voice of your thunder they hurried away.
8
The mountains rose, the valleys sank down, to the place which you had assigned to them.
9
You have set a boundary that they may not pass over; that they don't turn again to cover the earth.
10
He sends forth springs into the valleys. They run among the mountains.
11
They give drink to every animal of the field. The wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12
The birds of the sky nest by them. They sing among the branches.
13
He waters the mountains from his rooms. The earth is filled with the fruit of your works.
14
He causes the grass to grow for the livestock, and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food out of the earth:
15
wine that makes glad the heart of man, oil to make his face to shine, and bread that strengthens man's heart.
16
Yahweh's trees are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon, which he has planted;
17
where the birds make their nests. The stork makes its home in the fir trees.
18
The high mountains are for the wild goats. The rocks are a refuge for the rock badgers.
19
He appointed the moon for seasons. The sun knows when to set.
20
You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the animals of the forest prowl.
21
The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God.
22
The sun rises, and they steal away, and lay down in their dens.
23
Man goes forth to his work, to his labor until the evening.
24
Yahweh, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches.
25
There is the sea, great and wide, in which are innumerable living things, both small and large animals.
26
There the ships go, and leviathan, whom you formed to play there.
27
These all wait for you, that you may give them their food in due season.
28
You give to them; they gather. You open your hand; they are satisfied with good.
29
You hide your face: they are troubled; you take away their breath: they die, and return to the dust.
30
You send forth your Spirit: they are created. You renew the face of the ground.
31
Let the glory of Yahweh endure forever. Let Yahweh rejoice in his works.
32
He looks at the earth, and it trembles. He touches the mountains, and they smoke.
33
I will sing to Yahweh as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have any being.
34
Let your meditation be sweet to him. I will rejoice in Yahweh.
35
Let sinners be consumed out of the earth. Let the wicked be no more. Bless Yahweh, my soul. Praise Yah!
